Discography
• Suicidal Tendencies (1983)
• Join the Army (1987)
• How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988)
• Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu (1989)
• Lights...Camera...Revolution! (1990)
• The Art of Rebellion (1992)
• Still Cyco After All These Years (1993)
• Suicidal for Life (1994)
• Freedumb (1999)
• Free Your Soul and Save My Mind (2000)
• No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family (2010)
• 13 (2013)
• World Gone Mad (2016)
• Still Cyco Punk After All These Years (2018)
Hearing Voices
Suicidal Tendencies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My mind wasn't clear, but I could tell something wasn't right
So silent I could hear my heart pump
But then I heard a sound that made me jump
I tried to get real brave, tried to look around
I tried to find out from where came that sound
The more I looked, the less I could see
I hear voices, when I'm all alone
Hearing voices, but there's nobody home
Hear the voices, could it be they're calling out of me
Hearing voices, I look why can't I see
I hear voices, can't stop those voices
It happened again, the very next day
I still couldn't understand what they were try to say
Could only get the courage to open up one eye
Couldn't see nothing, but the voices they don't lie
I search and search but not a soul I found
Pretty damn sure no one was around
The more I looked the less I could see
Then I realized the voices were calling from me
I hear voices, when I'm all alone
Hearing voices, but there's nobody home
Hear the voices, could it be they're calling out of me
Hearing voices, I look why can't I see
Are they demons, or are they angels or am I crazy
Now the voices I start to understand
They have to do with the Master plan
You think about what you'd do
Cause one day the voices will be calling out to you
The voices I hear now I know are true
They come not from one but they come from two
The real point is what I'm missing
From which voice will I listen
I hear voices
Hearing voices
Do you hear the voices?
Can't stop the voices
The song "Hearing Voices" by Suicidal Tendencies is a raw and intense representation of inner turmoil and paranoia, describing the experience of hearing disembodied voices when no one else is around. The lyrics paint a picture of confusion and fear, as the singer hears unusual sounds that they cannot explain or understand, and begins to question their own sanity. They try to investigate, but the more they look, the less they seem to be able to perceive, and the voices continue to call out to them, creating an escalating sense of unease.
Throughout the song, the singer tries to come to grips with the reality of the situation, questioning whether the voices they hear are demonic, angelic or simply figments of their imagination. Eventually, they begin to realize that the voices are tied to some kind of Master plan, and that everyone will eventually hear them. The final question posed is which voice they will listen to, suggesting that the voices may represent a conflict between different choices or values, rather than simply an outside threat.
One possible interpretation of the song is that the voices represent the subconscious or inner thoughts that we all have, which can sometimes be confusing or difficult to understand. The singer's struggle to reconcile the different voices they hear echoes the way we all must navigate the competing demands of our own conscience, desires, fears, and ambitions. Another possible interpretation is that the song is a commentary on mental illness, and the stigma and isolation that can come with experiencing symptoms like hearing voices. The raw emotion and tension in the music and lyrics make it clear that the experience is deeply distressing, and the final refrain of "Can't stop the voices" suggests a sense of inevitability or powerlessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Got home kind of late last night
The singer returned home late in the night
My mind wasn't clear, but I could tell something wasn't right
The singer was aware that his mind wasn't clear and sensed something amiss
So silent I could hear my heart pump
The surroundings were so quiet that the singer could hear his heart beating
But then I heard a sound that made me jump
The artist heard a sudden frightening sound
I tried to get real brave, tried to look around
The artist tried to gather courage and check his surroundings
I tried to find out from where came that sound
The singer attempted to locate the source of the sound he heard
The more I looked, the less I could see
The singer found it harder to see anything as he searched
But the voices keep calling, calling out of me
Despite not seeing anything, the artist kept hearing voices call out to him
I hear voices, when I'm all alone
The artist hears voices when he is alone
Hearing voices, but there's nobody home
He hears voices even though there is no one else present
Hear the voices, could it be they're calling out of me
The singer wonders if the voices he hears are coming from within him
Hearing voices, I look why can't I see
Despite hearing the voices, the artist cannot see where they are coming from
I hear voices, can't stop those voices
The singer is unable to stop the voices he hears
It happened again, the very next day
The same incidence repeated itself the next day
I still couldn't understand what they were trying to say
The singer couldn't comprehend the meaning behind the voices he heard
Could only get the courage to open up one eye
The artist was afraid to open both his eyes and could only manage to open one
Couldn't see nothing, but the voices they don't lie
Even though the artist couldn't see anything, the voices he heard were real
I search and search but not a soul I found
The singer searched but couldn't find anyone or anything
Pretty damn sure no one was around
The singer was confident that no one was present
Then I realized the voices were calling from me
The artist finally concludes that the voices come from within him
Are they demons, or are they angels or am I crazy
The artist considers whether the voices are supernatural, or if he is losing his sanity
Now the voices I start to understand
The artist gradually begins to comprehend the meaning behind the voices
They have to do with the Master plan
The voices are related to a bigger plan or purpose
You think about what you'd do
The artist urges the listener to consider how they would react in a similar situation
Cause one day the voices will be calling out to you
The singer cautions that one day someone else might experience the same thing
The voices I hear now I know are true
The singer is now convinced that the voices he hears are real
They come not from one but they come from two
The singer realizes that the voices are not from just one source, but two
The real point is what I'm missing
The artist acknowledges that he is missing something important
From which voice will I listen
The artist wonders which of the two voices he should listen to
I hear voices
The singer hears voices
Hearing voices
The singer is still hearing the voices
Do you hear the voices?
The artist asks the listener whether they also hear the voices
Can't stop the voices
The artist is unable to stop the voices he hears
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MAYORGA, MUIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind