"Hole in the Head" was written by Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper, Tim Powell, Nick Coler and Niara Scarlett, in collaboration with the Sugababes' members—Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Heidi Range, for the group's third studio album, Three.[1] Higgins and Jeremy Wheatley produced the song in conjunction with the songwriting and production team Xenomania, which was founded by Higgins himself.[1] Wheatley also completed the song's mixing process at the Townhouse Studios in London.[1]
"Hole in the Head" is an uptempo pop song, with influences of R&B.[2][3] K. Ross Hoffman of Allmusic described it as "a slice of bouncy, slightly off-kilter up-tempo pop".[4] According to the digital sheet music published by EMI Music Publishing, "Hole in the Head" was composed in the key of F-sharp minor at a tempo of 125 beats per minute.".[5] The Sugababes' vocal range in the song spans from the lower note of F3 to the higher note of D5.[5] It follows the chord progression Bm—F♯m—A—E.[5] "Hole in the Head" draws musical influences from German vocal group Boney M. and the "swagger rock" of American recording artist Madonna.[6] The song incorporates dance beats, guitars and techno effects.[7] "Hole in the Head" is reminiscent of the Sugababes' previous single "Round Round", which was also produced by Xenomania.[4]
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Overloaded: The Singles Collection.[1]
Songwriting – Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper, Tim Powell, Nick Coler, Niara Scarlett, Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, Heidi Range
Production – Brian Higgins, Xenomania, Jeremy Wheatley
Additional vocal production – Yoad Nevo
Mixing – Jeremy Wheatley at the Townhouse Studios
Keyboards – Brian Higgins, Tim Powell
Programming – Tim Powell, Nick Coler
Guitars – Nick Coler, Shawn Lee
Vocals – Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, Heidi Range
Hole in the Head
Sugababes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
11 coffees
Ricki Lake on play
But late at night
When I'm feeling blue
I'd sell my ass before I'd think of you
Seven hours since you closed the door
Started a diet, got a manicure
And if you call me I won't be at home
He said
Why don't you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
Run away
Why'd you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
I said OK
Cause
Ooh boy d'ya miss me like a hole in the head?
Because I do boy
And it's cool boy and
Ooh betcha never thought I'd get out of bed
Because of you boy
Such a fool boy
11 hours on a brand new day
I'm getting ready to go out and play
It's late at night
I'm caught in a groove
I'll kiss my ass before I'm feeling blue
Seven hours what you calling for
A bunch of flowers
And I'll slam the door
You're in my face
Sorry what's your name
Takes more than begging
To reverse my brain
Ooh boy d'ya miss me like a hole in the head?
Because I do boy
And it's cool boy and
Ooh betcha never thought I'd get out of bed
Because of you boy
Such a fool boy
Through with it
Over it
Not having it
This crazy shit
Been feeling this
Indelicate
No more, no more
I'm through with it
Not having it
This crazy shit
Not feeling it
Can't deal with it
No more of it
No more, no more
Breaking off the brunt
Brand new day has just begun
Just because you made me go "ooh"
Doesn't mean I'm running with you
Don't you dare tear back
Can't you see I won't take that
I ain't crying now over you
Better free your head up
Like I told you
Why don't you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
Run away
Why don't you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
I said OK
Cause
Ooh boy d'you miss me like a hole in the head?
Because I do boy
And it's cool boy and
Ooh betcha never thought I'd get out of bed
Because of you boy
Such a fool boy
(Such a fool)
Ooh boy d'you miss me like a hole in the head?
(A hole in the head)
Because I do boy
(I do)
And it's cool boy and
(It's cool)
Ooh betcha never thought I'd get out of bed
(Get out of bed)
Because of you boy
(Because I do boy)
Such a fool boy
(Such a fool)
Run away
I said OK cause
Run away
The lyrics to the Sugababes' song "Hole in the Head" tell the story of a woman who has just gone through a breakup but is determined to move on. She spends her time doing things to distract herself, such as watching Ricki Lake and getting a manicure. She even erases her ex's phone number so he can't contact her. The woman is angry and hurt but refuses to let her emotions get the best of her. She asserts her independence and strength, declaring that she'd rather sell her ass than think of her ex. Throughout the song, she questions whether her ex misses her but ultimately decides that she doesn't care because she's over him and moving on with her life.
The lyrics are a reflection of the universal experience of breakups and emotional healing. The story told in "Hole in the Head" is one many people can relate to: the pain of heartbreak and the struggle to move on. The woman's refusal to let her ex control her emotions is empowering and uplifting to listeners who have gone through similar situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Seven hours since you went away
It's been seven hours since you left
11 coffees
I drank 11 cups of coffee
Ricki Lake on play
Watching Ricki Lake on TV
But late at night
But it's already late at night
When I'm feeling blue
Whenever I'm feeling sad
I'd sell my ass before I'd think of you
I wouldn't even consider thinking about you
Seven hours since you closed the door
It's been seven hours since you left and shut the door
Started a diet, got a manicure
I started a diet and got a manicure
Erased your number from the telephone
I deleted your number from my phone
And if you call me I won't be at home
I won't be home if you call me
"Why don't you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
Run away
Why'd you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
I said OK
Why don't you cry and run away for the guy who said goodbye? Why would you cry for him? I'm OK without you.
Ooh boy d'ya miss me like a hole in the head?
Because I do boy
And it's cool boy and
Ooh betcha never thought I'd get out of bed
Because of you boy
Such a fool boy
Do you miss me as much as I don't need you? I miss you but I'm okay with moving on. I never thought I'd recover from my sadness because of you, and I was a fool for loving you.
11 hours on a brand new day
I'm getting ready to go out and play
It's late at night
I'm caught in a groove
I'll kiss my ass before I'm feeling blue
It's a new day and I'm getting ready to have fun. It's late at night and I'm feeling good. I'd rather do something crazy than feel sad.
Seven hours what you calling for
A bunch of flowers
And I'll slam the door
You're in my face
Sorry what's your name
Takes more than begging
To reverse my brain
You're calling me after seven hours with flowers, but I don't care. I'll shut the door on your face. Don't even bother apologizing or begging, because I'm not changing my mind.
"Why don't you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
Run away
Why don't you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
I said OK
Why don't you cry and run away for the guy who said goodbye? Why would you cry for him? I'm OK without you.
Ooh boy d'ya miss me like a hole in the head?
Because I do boy
And it's cool boy and
Ooh betcha never thought I'd get out of bed
Because of you boy
Such a fool boy
Do you miss me as much as I don't need you? I miss you but I'm okay with moving on. I never thought I'd recover from my sadness because of you, and I was a fool for loving you.
Through with it
Over it
Not having it
This crazy shit
Been feeling this
Indelicate
No more, no more
I'm through with it
Not having it
This crazy shit
Not feeling it
Can't deal with it
No more of it
No more, no more
I'm done with it, over it, and not dealing with your craziness anymore. It's been affecting me badly, and I can't take it anymore. No more of this drama for me.
Breaking off the brunt
Brand new day has just begun
Just because you made me go "ooh"
Doesn't mean I'm running with you
Don't you dare tear back
Can't you see I won't take that
I ain't crying now over you
Better free your head up
Like I told you
I'm breaking it off, it's a new day, and you may have been tempting, but I'm not going back to you. Don't try to change my mind because it's not happening. I'm not crying over you, and it's time for you to move on.
"Why don't you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
Run away
Why don't you cry
For the guy?
Said goodbye
I said OK
Why don't you cry and run away for the guy who said goodbye? Why would you cry for him? I'm OK without you.
Ooh boy d'you miss me like a hole in the head?
(A hole in the head)
Because I do boy
(I do)
And it's cool boy and
(It's cool)
Ooh betcha never thought I'd get out of bed
(Get out of bed)
Because of you boy
(Because I do boy)
Such a fool boy
(Such a fool)
Do you miss me as much as I don't need you? I miss you, but it's cool because I'm doing fine. I never thought I'd recover from my sadness because of you, and I was a fool for loving you.
Run away
I said OK cause
Run away
Just run away because I'm OK without you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MUTYA BUENA, KEISHA BUCHANAN, NICK COLER, MIRANDA COOPER, BRIAN HIGGINS, TIMOTHY POWELL, HEIDI RANGE, NIARA SCARLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shaundodd1512
This was number 1 20 years ago today, still sounds fresh!
@dancarl6803
It's 2023 and I just watched mutya and Keisha perform this song Live in Brisbane. Was fire 🔥
@ribletsm4313
Sugababes were actually one of the best! A league of their own..
@Blueluise
Agassi, ok, ....
@Dfabism
That point where you have been trying to remember the name of a song for 14 F'ing years that you heard in a bowling alley 14 years ago and just happen to stumble across it and say.....HOLY SHIT....FINALLY!!
@tonym7919
Dfabism Woo! I love that feeling so much. Happy for you!
@Ali1671
You can say you had hole in a had. :-)
@loupcaldeira
Congrats 😘
@jedrzejmiklaszewski2107
Happened to me like a month ago bro ;)
@Dreiiii
I had exactly that same thought trying to find that song! Googled girl bands in the 2000s and scrolled until I found the name that I recognized !
I’ve watched this video 13 years ago and finally found it again 😋