Heads Will Roll — Yeah Yeah Yeahs Lyrics
Soundtrack: Agatha All Along
Heads Will Roll Song Lyrics
[Chorus]
Off with your head
Dance 'til you're dead
Heads will roll
Heads will roll
Heads will roll
On the floor
[Verse 1]
Glitter on the wet streets
Silver over everything
The river's all wet
You're all chrome
Dripping with alchemy
Shiver, stop shivering
The glitter's all wet
You're all chrome
[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
[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
[Bridge]
Looking glass
Take the past
Shut your eyes
Mirror lies
Looking glass
Take the past
Shut your eyes
Mirror lies
[Verse 2]
Glitter on the wet streets
Silver over everything
The glitter's all wet
You're all chrome
You're all chrome
Oh, ah
Oh, ah
[Chorus]
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
Track Listing
›Agatha's Theme (Instrumental)
Christophe Beck & Michael Paraskevas
› Jane Doe (Instrumental)
Christophe Beck & Michael Paraskevas
›The Ballad of The Witches' Road (Cover Version)
Kathryn Hahn
›The Ballad of the Witches' Road (True Crime Version)
Matthew Mayfield
›The Night Is Ours
David Gerard Lawrence and Charles Morton
›Season of the Witch
Donovan
›On My Mind
Blackhand
›Karakoram
Kuljit Singh Bhamra
›Visions
Plastic People
›The Gallery
Wild Signals
›All Odds
Wild Signals
›There's a Road
Kinney
›The Road to Happiness
Natalie Poole
›The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Sacred Chant Version)
Kathryn Hahn, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Patti LuPone, Debra Jo Rupp & Agatha All Along
›Heads Will Roll
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
›The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Lorna Wu's Version)
Seomoon Tak
›The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Cover Version)
Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Aubrey Plaza and Patti Lupone
›You Should See Me in a Crown
Billie Eilish
›No Need to Try
Blackhand
›Hava Nagila
Brothers of the Baladi
›Black Night
Clementine & The Galaxy
›Shadower
Cody Page
›Dead of Night
Orville Peck and Louise Burns
›Time in a Bottle
Jim Croce
November, 20th 2024
Song Details and Overview
- Featuring Artist(s): None
- Producer(s): Nick Launay, David Andrew Sitek
- Composer: Karen O, Nick Zinner, Brian Chase
- Writer: Karen O, Nick Zinner, Brian Chase
- Release Date: June 29, 2009
- Musical Instruments: Guitar, synthesizer, drums, tambourine
- Label: Interscope Records, DGC Records
- Musical Genre: Dance-rock, Synth-pop, Indie Rock
- Album: It’s Blitz!
- Track #: 2
- Language(s): English
- Mood: Dark, energetic, eerie
Exploring the Meaning of "Heads Will Roll"
"**Heads Will Roll**" by **Yeah Yeah Yeahs** is a high-energy track combining gothic and dance elements to explore themes of excess, escapism, and the consequences of reckless behavior. Through its haunting lyrics and driving beat, the song metaphorically addresses the dangers of the rave culture and lifestyle.
Composition and Structure
The track stands out with its mix of electronic dance beats and rock instrumentation, creating a seductive yet unsettling atmosphere. Karen O's commanding vocals pair with pulsating synthesizers and distorted guitars, capturing the chaos and allure of the party scene it critiques.
Meaning and Annotations
- [Chorus] The repeated cry of "Off with your head, dance 'til you're dead" echoes the hedonistic, self-destructive tendencies of rave culture. The line also alludes to the Red Queen from *Alice in Wonderland*, suggesting a surreal, dreamlike detachment from reality.
- [Verse 1] Imagery such as "glitter on the wet streets" and "you're all chrome" creates a glamorous yet cold setting, evoking the fleeting, artificial beauty of nightlife. The mention of "alchemy" and "shivering" hints at a transformation fueled by substance use.
- [Pre-Chorus] The repeated calls from men and women convey the collective energy of a crowd, yet the haunting "oh no" hints at underlying danger and regret.
- [Bridge] References to "looking glass" and "mirror lies" symbolize self-reflection and deception, reinforcing the theme of reality distortion within the escapism of partying.
Similar Songs
This track shares its dark and intense exploration of excess and consequence with other iconic songs. Below are some examples:
- "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane: A psychedelic anthem inspired by *Alice in Wonderland*, delving into drug culture and surreal experiences.
- "Dancing With Myself" by Billy Idol: While more upbeat, it reflects on isolation and escapism within the party scene.
- "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele: A different genre but equally intense in its exploration of emotional depth and consequence.
- "Blue Monday" by New Order: A seminal dance track capturing the cold, synthetic beauty of 80s club culture.
- "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga: Similar in its mix of dark themes and danceable beats.
Chart Performance and Awards
"**Heads Will Roll**" was a significant hit, peaking at #1 on the Dance/Electronic Singles chart in the USA and Belgium's Flemish Ultratop 50 chart. Its inclusion in multiple media, including *The Tudors* and *Glee*, further cemented its cultural impact.
Comparisons to Previous Works
Compared to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' earlier raw and edgy rock sound, "Heads Will Roll" embraces a more polished, electronic aesthetic while retaining the band's intensity. Tracks like "Zero" from the same album showcase a similar evolution into synth-driven music, marking a bold new direction for the group.
"I figured if we were going to write a dance song, it should be about heads bouncing on the floor and murder and slaughter."
Karen O, via NME
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