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).
Phantasized Persecutory Breast
Severed Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come Visit The Big Bigot
Phantasised Persecutory Breast
I got a photograph says / you ruined a perfect day
I got 33 days and 33 ways to make waves
I am a High Court judge / says you got 33 seconds
We have a piece of paper / 33 pages to turn
I am a superintendent / says you got 33 seconds
"True story about a looney met in a welfare centre."
The lyrics to Severed Heads's song "Phantasized Persecutory Breast" depict a narrative that delves into themes of control, oppression, and the arbitrary nature of authority. The opening line, "I got a photograph says you ruined a perfect day," suggests that the singer has evidence of someone causing disruption or chaos. This line sets the tone for the song's exploration of power dynamics and the consequences of deviating from societal norms.
The next lines, "I got 33 days and 33 ways to make waves," reveal a sense of defiance and resistance against this perceived authority. The number "33" may symbolize a multitude of possibilities or strategies available to challenge and subvert the oppressive forces. It conveys a sense of resourcefulness and determination to fight against injustice.
The lyrics then introduce the imagery of a High Court judge and a superintendent, who both assert their power by declaring that the singer has only 33 seconds to make their case. This emphasizes the arbitrariness and haste in how authority figures make decisions, reducing complex situations and individuals into mere seconds of judgment.
The subsequent lines, "We have a piece of paper / 33 pages to turn," and "We will go direct to jail / 33 years to serve," further explore the consequences of defying this authority. Here, the lyrics imply a rigid legal system that can impose severe punishments for perceived transgressions. The repetition of the number "33" throughout the lyrics creates a sense of numerical oppression, as if every aspect of the singer's life is dictated by this authoritarian power.
The final statement, "'True story about a looney met in a welfare centre,'" gives a context to the song's narrative. It suggests that the lyrics are based on a real-life encounter with an individual struggling with mental health issues, possibly confined to a welfare center. This statement adds a layer of complexity to the song, highlighting how institutional systems can sometimes exacerbate the plight of those already marginalized.
Overall, Severed Heads's "Phantasized Persecutory Breast" uses vivid imagery and numeric symbolism to explore the consequences of challenging authority and the potential injustices of the legal system. It offers a critical reflection on the ways power can be misused and how individuals can be trapped within systems of oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a photograph says / you ruined a perfect day
I possess a picture that serves as evidence of how you destroyed a day that was previously flawless.
I got 33 days and 33 ways to make waves
I am equipped with the knowledge and capability to create disturbances in various ways for a period of thirty-three days.
I am a High Court judge / says you got 33 seconds
I hold the position of a prestigious judge in the High Court, and I have determined that you have a mere thirty-three seconds to present your case.
We have a piece of paper / 33 pages to turn
We possess a document consisting of thirty-three pages that we must thoroughly examine.
I am a superintendent / says you got 33 seconds
I hold the rank of a superintendent, and in my authority, I grant you a brief timespan of thirty-three seconds to comply.
We will go direct to jail / 33 years to serve
We are bound to be immediately incarcerated, serving a sentence lasting thirty-three years.
Writer(s): Tom Ellard
Contributed by Kayla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.