The original members were Richard Fielding and Andrew Wright, and were soon joined by Tom Ellard. This later changed to Garry Bradbury, Paul Deering, and Tom Ellard; Ellard has been the only one to remain throughout the group's career, with changing lineups throughout its two and a half decades of existence, later working mainly with Stephen Jones. Robert Racic was an integral part of the band during the late eighties/early nineties.
Severed Heads performed a final concert in Sydney in January 2010. Tom Ellard uploaded a farewell video of Sevs in Space to Youtube, which may be considered as a requiem of sorts.
In early 2008, Ellard added the following text to the bottom of the official site's front page, "Severed Heads do not have a MySpace page. It is a fake. The band is dead,". (www.sevcom.com).
Estrogen
Severed Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had all of the flame without the pain of motherhood.
Without an heir I am alone but I have done nothing wrong."
(Rejoins the sea)
Did you ever say to yourself, "I am led by my parts.
I am the sum of the seductive arts. Now one of the family, I sold my privacy,
but I have done nothing wrong."
Time calls / Estrogen calls / Rejoins the Sea (Time crawls)
The lyrics of Severed Heads’ song “Estrogen” explore the complicated and often difficult experiences of womanhood. The opening lines, “Did you ever say to yourself, ‘What’s under this dress has done me good,’ confront the societal pressures placed on women to conform to particular physical standards. The singer acknowledges that her body, and her feminine attributes, have given her a certain power and attraction, but without bearing children, she finds herself alone.
The second verse delves into an exploration of the various roles that women are expected to play - seductress, mother, family member. The singer laments the loss of her privacy in conforming to these roles, which has been to her detriment. The repeated refrain of “Time calls / Estrogen calls / Rejoins the Sea (Time crawls)” suggests a sense of inevitability and cyclical nature to womanhood, while the parenthetical “Time crawls” adds a note of impatience, frustration or perhaps a glimmer of hope for change.
The lyrics of “Estrogen” are powerful and thought-provoking in the way they highlight the societal expectations and limitations placed on women. The song can be seen as a critique of patriarchal gender norms and the ways in which they can limit individuals’ potential and self-expression.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you ever say to yourself, "What's under this dress has done me good.
Have you ever thought to yourself that your feminine body parts have served you well?
I had all of the flame without the pain of motherhood.
You experienced the passion and excitement of sexuality without having to endure the physical and emotional strain of childbirth.
Without an heir I am alone but I have done nothing wrong."
Even though you have no offspring to carry on your legacy, you have committed no wrongdoing.
(Rejoins the sea)
The subject matter changes as the narrative switches from the personal to a metaphorical reflection on returning to nature.
Did you ever say to yourself, "I am led by my parts.
Have you ever acknowledged that your impulses and desires are principally influenced by your physical anatomy?
I am the sum of the seductive arts.
You perceive yourself as the product of skills you have learned to be attractive and alluring.
Now one of the family, I sold my privacy,
As you joined society, you forfeited your personal life in exchange for fitting in and gaining acceptance from others.
but I have done nothing wrong."
Despite this sacrifice, you have not transgressed any moral or ethical standards.
Time calls / Estrogen calls / Rejoins the Sea (Time crawls)
The chorus laments the passing of time and the willful fading into obscurity or death, likening it to the ebb and flow of the tides.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TOM ELLARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind