Band member Nick Zinner co-wrote this song with Karen O, during the same session that produced the track "Hysteric." He told Billboard magazine: "That was actually one of the last songs we wrote for the record. I think we always wanted to have a guilty-pleasure dance song; that was it, really. It came quickly, and it was just fun to write. (Source Heads Will Roll Songfacts).
Heads Will Roll
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dance 'til you're dead
Heads will roll
Heads will roll
Heads will roll
On the floor
Glitter on the wet streets
The river's all wet
You're all chrome
Dripping with alchemy
Shiver, stop shivering
The glitter's all wet
You're all chrome
The men cry out, the girls cry out
The men cry out, the girls cry out
The men cry out, oh no
The men cry out, the girls cry out
The men cry out, the girls cry out
The men cry out, oh no
Oh, ah
Oh, ah
Off, off with your head
Dance, dance 'til you're dead
Heads will roll
Heads will roll
Heads will roll
On the floor
Looking glass
Take the past
Shut your eyes
Mirror lies
Looking glass
Take the past
Shut your eyes
Mirror lies
Glitter on the wet streets
Silver over everything
The glitter's all wet
You're all chrome
You're all chrome
Oh, ah
Oh
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
At its core, Heads Will Roll speaks to the hedonistic freedom found in dancing, but it also hints at darker themes in its lyrics. "Off with your head, dance 'til you're dead" is likely a reference to the queen's infamous command in Alice in Wonderland, and the song's repeated refrain of "heads will roll" creates an ominous atmosphere. The imagery of "glitter on the wet streets" and "silver over everything" paints a picture of a neon-lit cityscape, but the repeated use of "you're all chrome" suggests that this world is also artificial and empty. The final line of the song, "shut your eyes, mirror lies," implies that this world is one of illusion, where people dance to escape reality but ultimately cannot escape the futility of their lives.
One interpretation of the song is that it critiques a society that values surface-level aesthetics and pleasure over true connection and meaning. The repetition of "the men cry out, the girls cry out" suggests that everyone is seeking some form of validation or release, but they are all stuck in a cycle of shallow experiences. The line "the river's all wet" further emphasizes the idea of a world that is all surface and no substance.
Overall, Heads Will Roll is a complex, multi-layered song that explores themes of artificiality, escapism, and the search for meaning in a world that can seem hopelessly empty.
Line by Line Meaning
Off with your head
Your actions have consequences and you must be held accountable for them.
Dance 'til you're dead
Enjoy life and live to the fullest, even if it means exhausting yourself in the process.
Heads will roll
There will be consequences for your actions and it may result in punishment.
On the floor
You will fall and fail, but you must get back up and keep trying.
Glitter on the wet streets
Life can be beautiful, yet unpredictable and chaotic at the same time.
Silver over everything
The superficial and materialistic aspects of life may be alluring, but they are not everything.
The river's all wet
The world around you may be confusing and hard to navigate, but you must keep moving forward anyways.
You're all chrome
You may be shiny and put-together on the outside, but underneath it all, you are flawed and imperfect just like everyone else.
Dripping with alchemy
Your experiences and struggles in life can transform you into someone different and greater than you were before.
Shiver, stop shivering
Let go of your fear and embrace the challenges that come your way.
The men cry out, the girls cry out
Everyone experiences hardship and pain, regardless of gender.
Oh no
Expressing frustration and dismay at the unfairness of life and its challenges.
Looking glass
Self-reflection and introspection are important for personal growth and development.
Take the past
Embrace your past and learn from your mistakes to become a better person in the present and future.
Shut your eyes
Block out the negativity and focus on the things that matter the most.
Mirror lies
The image you have of yourself can be distorted and not reflect reality, so it's important to be mindful of how you perceive yourself.
Oh
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm for life despite its challenges and hardships.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brian Chase, Karen Lee Orzolek, Nicholas Joseph Zinner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PinkyeBoy
The song : ends
My friend : Why are you still dancing?
Me : Do I look dead?
@cannon.3203
underrated comment
@emerald_wrath1873
Underrated
@ablanco1453
Very Underrated
@cheedam8738
golden comment
@speedanimatesstuffs9801
Underrated
@vanesaponce2604
One minute of silence of the people who can't find this song
@mariehladikova8377
@@William_Nowin 54 now
@camadlakewood
๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ
@vanesaponce2604
@@William_Nowin yeah but a lot of people in the comments are saying: "wow finally i meet the original version of this meme" thats why i say one minute of silence of people who can't find this song