Head Down
Sweet Water Lyrics


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Yeah
Stuck in a bad place
Running in place
Pushing my head under tow
Riding buses and living low

[Chorus:]
I'm keeping my head down
Keeping my head down
Keeping my head down
Keeping my head down
I don't care about the news of the world
The story's always the same
Nothing will ever change
I don't care about the news of the world
The story's always the same
I won't ever change
I won't ever change

Scraping up my money
Scraping my knees
Beating myself hand to mouth
Stretched my back so they can walk over me

[Chorus]

Ever change no, no
I don't care about the news of the world
The story's always the same
Nothing will ever change
Nothing will ever change
Ever change
Ever change
I don't care, I don't care, I don't care

I don't care, I don't care, I don't care
I don't care

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sweet Water's song Head Down showcase the feeling of being stuck in a rut and going through the motions of everyday life without any hope for change. The first verse paints a picture of the singer feeling trapped in a bad situation, "Stuck in a bad place, running in place, pushing my head under tow, riding buses and living low." The repetition of "keeping my head down" in the chorus shows the singer's unwillingness to engage with the world around them or take on any new perspectives. They don't care about "the news of the world" because "the story's always the same." The second verse highlights the singer's struggle to make ends meet, "scraping up my money, scraping my knees, beating myself hand to mouth, stretched my back so they can walk over me." The repetition of "nothing will ever change" emphasizes the singer's resignation to their current station in life.


Overall, the lyrics to Head Down suggest a sense of hopelessness and frustration as the singer feels like they're stuck in a cycle of poverty and monotony. The repetition of certain phrases within the chorus and throughout the song reinforces this idea of being stuck and unable to break out of one's circumstances. While the lyrics themselves might seem somewhat bleak, the driving guitar riffs and driving percussion create a sense of energy and urgency that suggest there might be a way out of this rut--even if it's not immediately apparent to the singer.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah
An exclamation indicating readiness to begin


Stuck in a bad place
Feeling trapped and unhappy with current situation


Running in place
Exerting effort but not making progress


Pushing my head under tow
Forcing oneself to keep going despite difficulties


Riding buses and living low
Living a difficult life with limited resources


I'm keeping my head down
Trying to avoid drawing attention to oneself


I don't care about the news of the world
Not interested in outside events or distractions


The story's always the same
Belief that nothing ever changes for the better


Nothing will ever change
Resigned to the belief that change is not possible


Scraping up my money
Working hard just to make ends meet


Scraping my knees
Continuing to work hard despite experiencing physical discomfort


Beating myself hand to mouth
Struggling to survive


Stretched my back so they can walk over me
Letting others take advantage of oneself


I won't ever change
Belief that personal improvement is not possible


Ever change no, no
Reinforcing the belief that change is not possible


I don't care, I don't care, I don't care
Emphasizing the apathetic attitude towards outside events or distractions




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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