“Heads Will Roll” is a song by the American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It came out as the second single from their third album, “It’s Blitz!” in 2009. In the United Kingdom, the CD and 7-inch singles were released on June 29, 2009.
The popular historical drama series, “The Tudors,” used this song to promote its fourth season. This season focused on the story of Katherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth queen, who was beheaded for adultery when she was a teenager.
The song explores the idea of living our lives to the fullest, regardless of the consequences and the imminent threat of death.
In this article, we’ll delve into the meaning behind the lyrics.
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Inspiration Behind “Heads Will Roll”
Frontwoman Karen O told the New Musical Express on January 17, 2009: “I figured if we were going to write a dance song, it should be about heads bouncing on the floor and murder and slaughter.”
The band wrote this song during the same session that produced another track from “It’s Blitz!” called “Hysteric.” Nick Zinner 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. When we were playing in Europe, it’s definitely the song people react to the strongest, like freaking out when we play it.”
“Heads Will Roll” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
Glitter on the wet streets
Silver over everything
The river’s all wet
You’re all chrome
Verse 1 describes a scene where there is glitter on wet streets, covering everything with a silver sheen. The mention of “the river’s all wet” emphasizes the wet and shiny surroundings. The phrase “You’re all chrome” suggests someone being shiny or metallic like chrome.
[Verse 2]
Dripping with alchemy
Shiver, stop shivering
The glitter’s all wet
You’re all chrome
Verse 2 talks about a state connected to alchemy, which suggests something mystical or transformative. The word “shiver” hints at a feeling of cold or excitement, and the lyrics also mention that the glitter is wet again, which makes the shimmering quality even more apparent.
When it says “You’re all chrome,” it continues to highlight the reflective and metallic nature of the surroundings, keeping the feeling of a bright and captivating atmosphere.
[Pre-Chorus]
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
In the Pre-Chorus, the repeated calls and cries from both men and girls might suggest a response to something scary or unsettling. This idea matches with the music video, where there’s a transformation into a werewolf, which likely causes shock and fear among the characters in the video.
[Chorus]
Off, off with your head
Dance, dance ’til you’re dead (dead)
Heads will roll
Heads will roll
Heads will roll
On the floor
In the Chorus, the singer is describing how people react when faced with a menacing presence, such as the werewolf transformation in the music video. Interestingly, they were dancing and having fun until their heads were cut off and rolling on the floor.
[Bridge]
Looking glass
Take the past
Shut your eyes
Mirror lies
Looking glass
Take the past
Shut your eyes
Mirror lies
The Bridge adds a contrasting and mysterious touch to the song. The lyrics imply that we can’t always uncover the truth about our past even when we look at ourselves in the mirror.
The word “mirror” is usually used as a metaphor for reflecting the truth, but here the singer says “mirror lies.” In a deeper sense, this means that appearances can be deceptive. Therefore, he advises us to close our eyes and search within our hearts instead.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Heads Will Roll”
The song “Heads Will Roll” appears to explore the idea of living in the moment without fearing the imminent threat of death. The title “Heads Will Roll” can mean heads rolling on the floor after being cut off literally, or heads continue to move to the rhythm of rock and roll even when dying.
Overall, the song’s lyrics are cryptic and mysterious. Without watching the music video, it can be challenging to understand them fully.
In the music video, the band is shown performing in what seems to be an underground venue. A dancing werewolf, reminiscent of Michael Jackson, joins them on stage. This werewolf then chases after the audience and kills most of them. The video ends with the band members having been murdered while Karen O continues singing, despite her head being severed from her body. This scene connects with the lyrics “Dance, dance ’til you’re dead (dead)/Heads will roll/On the floor.”
At first glance, the song seems to promote hedonism and recklessness, without considering the consequences. Some interpret it as a reminder that one cannot escape the repercussions of their actions, even in the midst of a wild party.
One of my friends suggests that the song serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked hedonism and the consequences of prioritizing pleasure above all else in a nightlife lifestyle.
However, I think the song is more about encouraging us to embrace our limited lives and live to the fullest without worrying too much about death, as we are all destined to face it eventually. Instead of dwelling on it, why not seize the present moment?
In fact, the playful depiction of death in the video and lyrics supports this message, as it doesn’t emphasize horror or fear. Instead of gore, the video features red glitter and confetti, and Karen O continues singing even after being decapitated.
In this perspective, the band’s intention is to convey that death is not as dreadful as it may seem; we should enjoy the time we have and make the most of it, akin to living like rock and roll stars.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.
I think she is uncovering the truth about certain peoe i.e elites watching otjers being drugged while performing for them andnin the end dying by sacrifice for their own pleasires while they continue to party. Looks are deceiving butpst of Hollywood onows the truth.