Hollywood
The Filthy Violets Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hollywood where do you hide your stars
I just stood and watched banshees roam my yard
Knew there's some mistake I never crashed that car
So desperate to blame but had no place to start
So convinced this is not my dream
Cold water rinse and wake me
They want you to beg
But you won't bend a knee
Their eyes how they stare
But somehow they can't see
A visionary
Oh like me
But what would you do if you were free
Hollywood where do you hide your heart
Seemed so strange you only smiled in the dark
A sadist in pain embracing his own art
But the tears just dried and we were back at the start
Still so convinced this is not my dream
Cold water rinse and wake me
They want you to beg
But you won't bend a knee
Their eyes how they stare
But somehow they can't see
A visionary



Oh like me
But what would you do if you were free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Filthy Violets’ song Hollywood appear to be an expression of frustration and disillusionment with the glamorous and often illusory world of Hollywood. The opening line of the song, “Hollywood where do you hide your stars,” is a poignant reflection on the fact that the stars of Hollywood may not be what they seem to be. This can be interpreted as a critique of the machine that Hollywood has become, where the focus is not on talent, but rather on superficiality and fame.


The following lines, “I just stood and watched banshees roam my yard,” are a metaphor for the predatory and cutthroat nature of Hollywood, where people in power can be likened to banshees, cruel and ghostly spirits that haunt the living. The next line, “Knew there’s some mistake I never crashed that car,” reveals the singer’s desire to dissociate from the industry, as if they do not belong in that world.


The chorus of the song ‘They want you to beg, but you won't bend a knee, Their eyes how they stare, but somehow they can't see, A visionary, Oh like me, But what would you do if you were free’ is a rallying cry for those who have been disenchanted by the falsity and heavy-handedness of Hollywood. It is a call to action for individuals to be true to themselves and their visions, despite the pressures to conform to the industry’s demands.


Line by Line Meaning

Hollywood where do you hide your stars
The artist wonders where the talented people in Hollywood are.


I just stood and watched banshees roam my yard
The singer witnessed unpleasant things happening in their surroundings.


Knew there's some mistake I never crashed that car
The artist believes they are being blamed for something they didn't do.


So desperate to blame but had no place to start
The artist wants to find someone to blame, but they don't have any evidence.


So convinced this is not my dream
The artist is sure that their reality is not what they want it to be.


Cold water rinse and wake me
The artist wants something to shock them into reality.


They want you to beg
The artist feels pressured to plead for success and recognition.


But you won't bend a knee
Despite the pressure, the artist will not give in to the expectations of the industry.


Their eyes how they stare
People in the industry judge and scrutinize the artist.


But somehow they can't see
Despite all the attention, the artist feels misunderstood.


A visionary
The artist believes they have unique and creative ideas.


Oh like me
The artist believes they are not alone in their beliefs.


But what would you do if you were free
The artist wonders what they could accomplish if they were not held back by the industry.


Hollywood where do you hide your heart
The artist questions the integrity and sincerity of the entertainment industry.


Seemed so strange you only smiled in the dark
The artist has noticed the industry's tendency to hide its true intentions and actions.


A sadist in pain embracing his own art
The industry is described as enjoying its own power, despite any harm it may cause.


But the tears just dried and we were back at the start
Despite any setbacks or disappointments, the industry continues on without remorse.




Contributed by Alex S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions