Stereophonics is a Welsh rock band formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman… Read Full Bio ↴Stereophonics is a Welsh rock band formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in the Cynon Valley, Wales. The band consists of Kelly Jones (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards), Richard Jones (bass guitar, harmonica, backing vocals), Adam Zindani (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Jamie Morrison (drums, percussion) and touring member Tony Kirkham (keyboards). The group previously included Stuart Cable (1992–2003) and then Javier Weyler (2004–2012) on drums. Stereophonics have released twelve studio albums, including eight UK number one albums. A successful compilation album, Decade in the Sun, was released in November 2008 and charted at number two on the UK Album Chart.

Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals", the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock and "British traditional rock". Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around, was released in August 1997 and charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph", "More Life in a Tramps Vest" and "A Thousand Trees". The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails (and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief", "Just Looking" and "Pick a Part That's New") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number one: "Dakota" (2005). Having sold around 10 million copies worldwide by 2016, Stereophonics are one of the most successful Welsh rock acts. Upon their release of Pull the Pin, they achieved five consecutive UK number one albums.

The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds in 2000, Glastonbury in 2002, V Festival in 2002, the Isle of Wight in 2004 and 2009, Oxegen in 2010, Tramlines Festival and TRNSMT in 2018, and Latitude in 2019. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonics

Studio albums
Word Gets Around (1997)
Performance and Cocktails (1999)
Just Enough Education to Perform (2001)
You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003)
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (2005)
Pull the Pin (2007)
Keep Calm and Carry On (2009)
Graffiti on the Train (2013)
Keep the Village Alive (2015)
Scream Above the Sounds (2017)
Kind (2019)
Oochya! (2022)

Deadhead
Stereophonics Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got a royal flush
I gotta ten bob
In my pocket for luck
Just another crush
I got my head read
In the shed once again
My friend

Inside, outside, upside, downside
See my face want to take me home
I missed you sister, shake your pistol
Hear my voice on your telephone

Just another lush
I got my ten green bottles
In my pocket for luck

In another rut
Get your deadhead
In the shed once again
My friend

Inside, outside, upside, downside
See my face want to take me home
I missed you sister, shake your pistol
Hear my voice on your telephone

Cigarette burning, got an opal ring
Dirty magazine turning, you're a bird who sings

Sleeping on a shag pile, sleeping on me
Sleeping like an angel watching over me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Deadhead by Stereophonics are enigmatic and open to interpretation. The song seems to talk about a person who is struggling with addiction and trying to escape the vicious cycle of substance abuse. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation, frustration, and inevitability of being trapped in a self-destructive loop.

The opening lines "I got a royal flush, I gotta ten bob in my pocket for luck, just another crush" probably refer to the singer's belief in gambling and good luck charms. But the tone soon turns grim as the lyrics mention getting one's "head read in the shed once again," suggesting a recurring addiction issue.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "inside, outside, upside, downside" which could symbolize the internal turmoil and confusion the singer feels. Throughout the song, there is a repeated desire to be taken home or find some kind of refuge, whether it's through the voice on the telephone or the sister who is missed.

The imagery used in the song is vivid and unsettling, with references to dirty magazines, opal rings, and shag piles. However, amidst all this, there is a hint of hope in the line "sleeping like an angel watching over me," which could indicate a sense of protection and guidance.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a royal flush
I have the best possible hand in a card game

I gotta ten bob
I have a small amount of money (ten shillings)

In my pocket for luck
I keep it there hoping it will bring me good fortune

Just another crush
I have a new infatuation with someone

I got my head read
I went to a psychiatrist to talk about my problems

In the shed once again
I retreated to a private place to think

My friend
Referring to someone I consider a close companion

Inside, outside, upside, downside
Referring to feeling disoriented and confused

See my face want to take me home
Someone is attracted to me and wants to be with me

I missed you sister, shake your pistol
Referring to a female friend and a playful gesture they share

Hear my voice on your telephone
I want to communicate with someone who is not present