There may be more than one artist called The Headstones (not to be confused… Read Full Bio ↴There may be more than one artist called The Headstones (not to be confused with artists called Headphones):

1) An Australian garage rock band from the 1980's, from Brisbane, who released two 45s and a mini-LP on Sydney's Waterfront Records between 1986 and 1988. Guitarist Chris Flynn later joined the Dubrovniks. The Headstones later appeared on the "Do The Pop!" compilation.

2) A 60s band from Texas.

Heart of Darkness
The Headstones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Heart of darkness
Heart of pain
Heart of darkness
And it´s swimming in my veins
Sometimes I look around and I just can´t believe what a
Stinking horrible motherfucking web I weave
Around myself
I look to my friends

Seduced by the bottle and the warmth of a syringe
I live my life like a terminal patient
I don´ t make plans just funeral arrangements
Like a con who goes down for 20 years
He remembers the faces of the judge and the jurors
God loves me
God loves you
God loved Hitler and 6 million Jews
Must be a con who won´t come down from the mount
We do a death dance he does a body count
Heart of darkness
Heart of pain

Heart of darkness
And it´s swimming in my veins

Overall Meaning

The Headstones's song Heart of Darkness embodies the despair and nihilism that can infiltrate an individual's life when consumed by addiction. The lyrics are full of references to the ultimate futility of existence, the pain of addiction, and the tangled mess it creates in an individual's life. The song's title is a reference to Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, which shares a similar theme with the song of self-destruction and inevitable doom.

The singer acknowledges the destructive pattern their addiction has created in their life, how they are slowly succumbing to the disease until there is no escape. They express disbelief at their situation and question how they got themselves there. The line "Seduced by the bottle and the warmth of a syringe" references the euphoric sensation of substance abuse that lures one deeper into addiction. The singer admits to living their life like a "terminal patient," indicating their knowledge that their disease is consuming them and they will eventually die because of it. The lyrics conclude with the somber acknowledgement that their addiction is part of them, "swimming in my veins."

The song's powerful message connects with individuals from all walks of life who have felt the suffocating grip of addiction. It's a reminder that we are all mere mortals and are not immune to the devastating effects of addiction.

Line by Line Meaning

Heart of darkness
My inner self is filled with negative and painful emotions

Heart of pain
I am constantly feeling deep emotional pain within my heart

Heart of darkness
My negative emotions are consuming me from within

And it's swimming in my veins
I feel like I am drowning in my own negative emotions, and they are flowing throughout my body

Sometimes I look around and I just can´t believe what a Stinking horrible motherfucking web I weave
I am often disgusted with the negative and destructive patterns in my life that I have created

Around myself
These negative patterns are a result of my own actions and choices

I look to my friends
I turn to my friends for comfort and support

Seduced by the bottle and the warmth of a syringe
However, I often turn to alcohol and drugs to numb my pain and emotions

I live my life like a terminal patient
I feel like I am living on borrowed time, with so much pain and hurt in my life

I don't make plans just funeral arrangements
I have given up hope for the future and am preparing myself for the worst possible outcome

Like a con who goes down for 20 years
I feel as though I am trapped in my own cycle, unable to escape from the pain and negative emotions

He remembers the faces of the judge and the jurors
Just like a prisoner, I can't help but constantly think about my past mistakes and the judgement of others

God loves me
I try to hold on to the belief that there is a greater force in the universe that loves and cares for me

God loves you
I wish the same for others, and hope that they too can find some form of love and support in their own lives

God loved Hitler and 6 million Jews
This belief can be difficult to maintain, especially when confronted with the historical atrocities and immense suffering that humanity has experienced

Must be a con who won't come down from the mount
I feel like I am repeating the same patterns and mistakes over and over again, unable to change or grow

We do a death dance he does a body count
My self-destructive behavior is leading me down a path towards my own demise, while the world around me continues on without me

Heart of darkness
My negative emotions continue to consume me from within, perpetuating my cycle of pain and hurt

Heart of pain
I am stuck in a cycle of pain and hurt, unable to break free from the negative emotions that continue to consume me

Heart of darkness
My inner self is filled with negative and painful emotions, which continue to hold me back from finding happiness and fulfillment in life

And it's swimming in my veins
These negative emotions continue to flow throughout my body, consuming me from within

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HUGH RUSH DILLON, MARK MALCOLM GIBSON, TRENT CARR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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