Composed primarily of transplants to the Seattle area, The Head and the Heart write and play songs that speak to the newness of a fresh start, of the ghosts left behind, of moving forward, all brimming with a soulfulness and hope for a better life than the one we've all been sold.
Stylistically, think a folksy Beatles or The Avett Brothers with a little extra oomph. Catchy piano melodies stand side by side with a tight trio of harmonies, and solid minimalist drums, groovin' bass, and plenty of hand percussion and foot stomps make the live show inspiring and really goddamn fun.
After the band self-released its eponymous debut album in June 2010, the emblematic Seattle label Sub Pop re-released the album. For the Sub Pop version, the song “Sounds like Hallelujah” has been re-recorded, live favorite “Rivers and Roads” has been added, and the album has been re-mastered.
The band's second album "Let's Be Still" was released on October 15, 2013.
The band released their third studio album, "Signs of Light", in September 2016.
The band's fourth album, "Living Mirage", was released in May 2019.
Band member Josiah Johnson released his debut solo album, "Every Feeling On a Loop", in September 2020.
Chasing A Ghost
The Head and the Heart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're not coming back
And now my nights are blue
The closest shade to black
Told me your insecurities
I gave you remedies
On how to heal your broken heart
And now there's nothing left for me
But I'll wait
Cuz that's all I know how to do
Our love fades
Like the stars and moon do when the sun wakes
Running in my nightmares
You're slowly getting farther away from me
It's sixty degrees and summer's frozen
As fall and winter start to enter in
My bones and my lungs
Is it fun?
Sleeping alone
With the radio on
And it's singing our songs
Our songs
But I'll wait
Cuz that's all I know how to do
Our love fades
Like the stars and moon do when the sun wakes
The lyrics of "Chasing A Ghost" by The Head and the Heart depict the aftermath of a failed relationship and the resulting feelings of loss, loneliness, and longing. The opening lines, "Chasing the ghost of you, you're not coming back," convey the desperate attempt to hold on to something that is already gone. The singer is haunted by the memory of their former lover, who is no longer a part of their life.
The mention of nights being blue, the closest shade to black, illustrates the profound sadness and emotional darkness the singer experiences in the absence of their loved one. It reflects the depth of their despair and the heavy toll the separation has taken on their emotional well-being.
The singer recalls a time when they were intimately familiar with their partner's insecurities and offered them remedies to heal their broken heart. However, now that their partner has moved on, the singer is left with nothing but the pain of watching them start a new life without them. This highlights the singer's sense of isolation and the realization that their efforts to save the relationship were ultimately in vain.
The lyrics also capture the sensation of the singer's suffering becoming increasingly distant, portrayed in the line "Running in my nightmares, you're slowly getting farther away from me." This suggests a growing acceptance of the loss and the understanding that they have no control over their ex-lover's choices or the direction their own life has taken.
The reference to the changing seasons, with the line "It's sixty degrees and summer's frozen, as fall and winter start to enter in my bones and my lungs," adds a metaphorical layer to the lyrics. The transition from summer to fall and winter mirrors the transition of their relationship from warmth and happiness to coldness and emptiness. The singer's bones and lungs symbolize their inner core and breath, signifying the deep impact the end of the relationship has had on their very being.
In conclusion, "Chasing A Ghost" delves into the complex emotions experienced after the end of a relationship. The lyrics convey a sense of longing, heartache, and the struggle to let go. Despite the pain, the singer clings to hope, even as they acknowledge the fading love and the inevitable passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Chasing the ghost of you
Continuously pursuing the memory and presence of someone who is no longer with me
You're not coming back
Accepting the fact that you will never return to me
And now my nights are blue
Feeling sadness and loneliness during the night
The closest shade to black
Experiencing deep sorrow and despair
Told me your insecurities
Shared your fears and vulnerabilities with me
I gave you remedies
Provided you with solutions and comfort
On how to heal your broken heart
Offered advice on recovering from emotional pain
And now there's nothing left for me
Left with emptiness and nothingness
But to see you leave and go to another start
Witnessing your departure and beginning a new chapter without me
But I'll wait
Remaining patient and hopeful
Cuz that's all I know how to do
Because waiting is the only action I am familiar with
Our love fades
The intensity of our love diminishes
Like the stars and moon do when the sun wakes
Similar to how the brightness of stars and moon fades when the sun rises
Running in my nightmares
Being haunted by distressing dreams
You're slowly getting farther away from me
I sense your increasing distance from me
It's sixty degrees and summer's frozen
Despite the temperature indicating warmth, the feeling of summer is stagnant and frozen
As fall and winter start to enter in
The arrival of autumn and winter, symbolizing coldness and endings
My bones and my lungs
Referring to one's core being and ability to breathe
Is it fun?
Questioning the enjoyment or satisfaction derived from this situation
Sleeping alone
Resting without the presence of a loved one
With the radio on
Listening to the radio for comfort and familiarity
And it's singing our songs
The songs being played remind me of our shared moments
Our songs
Referring to the songs that hold sentimental value to us
But I'll wait
Still choosing to be patient and hopeful
Cuz that's all I know how to do
Because waiting is the only action I am familiar with
Our love fades
The intensity of our love diminishes
Like the stars and moon do when the sun wakes
Similar to how the brightness of stars and moon fades when the sun rises
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: David Sargent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tones
I have never heard the Gothic Theater in Denver as quiet as they were when they played this...Amazing!
Sean Flynn
I was there too. It was beautiful.
Daniel Cheeks
Watching Josiah's eyes on Charity that whole song just makes everything a little clearer. God I love this band.