All three of the band's albums were released on Johnson's influential Olympia record label, K Records.
Following a hiatus through the early 2000's, The Halo Benders reformed in March 2007 for a pair of shows at the Visual Arts Collective in Boise, ID. The band featured Doug Martsch, Ralf Youtz, Calvin Johnson, and Brett Netson.
The Halo Benders' music is characterised by untraditional sounds, movements, and song structures. Additionally, the vocals of the baritone Johnson and the pitchy Martsch overlap often, even though often entirely unrelated. Johnson has said that the two write lyrics for songs largely independently.
Turn It My Way
The Halo Benders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A hard-head ego that's never gonna bruise
A cold-cut stare loaded two by two
Turnin′ my way
Turn it my way
Turnin' my way
Yeah, yeah
You got two proud legs that will never kneel
A crown on your brow no-one will steal
A whole lotta' pain that won′t a lover feel
Turn it my way
Turnin′ my way
Turn it my way
Turnin' my way
Turn it my way
Way
Turnin′ my way
I wish you would
I wish you would
I wish you would, I wish you would
You got a whirlpool heart heavy as lead
A diamond plated torrent, and your spirited friend (?)
There's an awful lot between us that′s been left unsaid
Turn it my way
Turnin' my way
Turn it my way
Turnin′ my way
Turnin' my way
Turnin' my way
Yeah
I wish you would
I wish you would
I wish you would, I wish you would
I wish you would
I wish you would
I wish you would, I wish you would
Have you ever collected toes from a really good ___(?)
Bit off more than you can chew ′til you can′t get enough
One of these days I'm gonna call your bluff
Then you′ll have to admit to a restless love
You can turn my way
Turnin' my way
Turnin′ my way
Turnin' my way
Turnin′ my way
Turnin' my way
Way
Way
Way, turn it
My way
Turn it my way
Way
Turn it my way
I wish you would
I wish you would
I wish you would, I wish you would
The Halo Benders’ song, “Turn It My Way” seems to be about someone who is self-absorbed and maybe even egotistical. The first verse talks about how they have more friends than they could ever need, an ego that won’t get hurt, and a cold and distant stare. The next verse talks about how they have great physical strength, regal authority, and seemingly no ability to feel pain or love. The chorus then comes in and repeatedly asks this person to turn their attention and affection towards them. The next verse is about how this person has a complicated and seemingly heavy heart, along with an impressive spirit or energy but there is so much left unsaid between them. The song then ends with the singer essentially calling out this person for their bravado by saying they’ve bitten off more than they can chew, and how that person has a “restless love” implying they might not be as confident as they seem.
Overall, this song seems to be about someone who is caught up in their own reality and has a lot of pride and bluster. However, the singer seems to both criticize and admire them at the same time, wanting their love and attention despite their flaws. Perhaps this person is someone they can’t help but be drawn to even if they don’t totally respect them.
Line by Line Meaning
You got more friends than you're ever gonna use
You have a lot of acquaintances, but you won't have the time or energy to maintain all of those relationships.
A hard-head ego that's never gonna bruise
Your ego is very strong and tough; nothing can damage it.
A cold-cut stare loaded two by two
Your gaze is intense and unwavering, as though you're looking directly through someone.
Turnin' my way
I hope you will start to approach things more from my perspective.
You got two proud legs that will never kneel
You refuse to compromise or show weakness, even when it's necessary.
A crown on your brow no-one will steal
You are the undisputed leader in your own world, and you hold yourself in very high regard.
A whole lotta' pain that won't a lover feel
You've been through a lot of heartache and disappointment, which makes you incapable of truly loving or connecting with others.
I wish you would
I hope that you'll listen to me and take my feelings into consideration.
You got a whirlpool heart heavy as lead
Your heart is full of complex emotions and feelings, but it's also weighed down by a sense of heaviness and sadness.
A diamond plated torrent, and your spirited friend (?)
Your personality is both brilliant and wild, and you have a close friend who shares those same qualities.
There's an awful lot between us that's been left unsaid
There are many unresolved issues and unspoken feelings between us that need to be addressed.
I wish you would
I hope that you'll start to open up and communicate with me.
Have you ever collected toes from a really good ___(?)
This line is unclear and difficult to interpret.
Bit off more than you can chew 'til you can't get enough
You're always taking on more than you can handle, until you hit a point of exhaustion or burnout.
One of these days I'm gonna call your bluff
One of these days, I'll challenge you and expose your true nature.
Then you'll have to admit to a restless love
You'll have to come to terms with the fact that your love and affection are always shifting and changing.
Turn it my way
I want you to see things from my perspective.
Way
This line doesn't have a clear meaning or purpose.
I wish you would
I hope that you'll start to understand me and what I want.
Turn it my way
I hope that you'll change and become more receptive to my ideas and feelings.
Way
This line doesn't have a clear meaning or purpose.
Turn it my way
I want you to start adopting my perspective and understanding things more from my point of view.
I wish you would
I hope that you'll make an effort to see things my way.
I wish you would
I really want you to listen to me.
I wish you would
I'm pleading with you to start taking my feelings into account.
Writer(s): Calvin Johnson, Douglas Martsch
Contributed by Alex B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.