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SOUNDGARDEN "Head Down"
tuning (low to high) : CACGCE
fig 1 fig 2 fig 3
E--1/21p0-0----1/21p0-0- |------------------|-12xx12-12-12-|
C----------0------------0- | --7-6b-0-5-5h7-0-|-12xx12-12-12-|
G--1/21p0-0----1/21p0-0- | -----------------|-12xx12-12-12-|
C--------------------------|------------------|--------------|
A--------------------------|------------------|--------------|
C--------------------------|-0----------------|--------------|
fig 4 fig 5
E--------------------------- | ---------------- |
C--------------------------- | ---------------- |
G--5-7-8-7h8-8-7-1-1h3p1-0---| ---------------- |
C--------------------------- | ---------------- |
A--------------------------- | --3333-33-333--- |
C--------------------------- | --5555-55-555--- |
^^^^ ^^ ^v^
repeat figs 2,3 & 4 three times then play fig 5 to lead into
vocals
( fig 5 can also be played as an F in standard tuning)
fig 6
I see that smile . . .
E---------------------------------------------------------|
C---------------------------------------------------------|
G--------------------------------------------0-00-0-0000--|
C-333-3-3333----222-2-2222----555-5-5555-7-8
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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No Picture
Joe Average |
#1 by Joe Fitzpatrick at Dec 16, 1970 at 4:05 AM EST |
| it's a sarcastic welcome song to a newborn about how the numbed, resigned, and cynical adults will finally succeed in shaping even the most creative, optimistic and freethinking children into molds resembling their own worn-out, senseless and emotionally crippled image. have a look at the background photo to this song in the sleeve. | |
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Toni Average |
#2 by Toni at Dec 24, 1970 at 11:47 PM EST |
| Funny, I also pictured it as being adressed to a girl... Anyway, I think that Lepra might be right. It makes a lot of sense (specially after looking the album sleeve). | |
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camilo Average |
#3 by camilo velasquez at Mar 15, 1971 at 10:32 PM EST |
| whoa. psychedelic arrangements. confusing lyrics. amazing song. | |
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zoe Wanna Be |
#4 by zoe cherrie at Aug 29, 1971 at 11:17 PM EST |
| We see you laugh We see you dance We take that away Every day --Government? Bow down to live Your Life --i say "yes-ish"....or something like it.... one of my favorite soundgarden songs... audioslave sucks, but rock live....ironic? | |
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Erik Lead Player |
#5 by Erik StJimmy at Sep 27, 1973 at 8:21 AM EST |
| One of the trippinest songs I've ever heard. In fact I don't think I think of one that even comes close. Anyone? When it first caught my attention (shortly after SuperUnknown was released) I couldn't get enough of this song. Awesome song. | |
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Braxton Lead Player |
#6 by Braxton Overby at Oct 31, 1974 at 11:11 PM EST |
| I think Lepra Messias is right. the singing is also kind of like a lullaby. | |
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Niks Average |
#7 by Niks at Mar 1, 1984 at 3:37 PM EST |
| Mokushi- yeah, I know. Anyone know a way to change them. It's a tad annoying. I've seen a few other posted lyrics that are innaccurate. Ah well... Class song. I always had the image of this song addressing a girl (don't know why). I guess it could be applicable to a male too. But it's too vague to read too much into it. But then I guess you CAN read too much into it because of its vagueness. Am I making sense? Anyway, it sounds like some authoritarian being derogative. Could be anyone of us. Wonder who.... | |
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Kyle Rhythm Player |
#8 by Kyle Wait I Aint Telling You at Apr 1, 1991 at 12:46 PM EST |
| To me its about trying to fight your demons because there always getting the better of you | |
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Dakota Lead Player |
#9 by Dakota Sparks at Dec 27, 1995 at 4:45 AM EST |
| Head down. I always thought about how people avoid eye contact when your walking around. People stairing at their feet rather than looking up. I always thought it had to do with low self-esteem and how music makes you feel good. | |
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eric Rhythm Player |
#10 by eric christian at Aug 12, 1996 at 11:13 AM EST |
| It was written by Ben Shepard. The picture in the book and the title make me think of depression. Maybe it has to do with acts of submission. Prayer, birth, pain, sadness, and shame. I don't think it's a sad song though. Just keep your head high and sing to "a song you like". | |
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No Picture
Mauricio Average |
#11 by Mauricio Avendaņo at Nov 9, 1996 at 12:29 PM EST |
| I never thought about it being about low self-esteem or oppression from society, but I can certainly see it. I never thought about the lyrics too much...part of me always wondered if it was a cynical view on babies, partly because they have a picture of one in the lyric book. It could be pointing out how when you have a child enter your life, you don't focus on the things which make you you happy..the baby must come first. I'm probably wrong, but I think perhaps you could take the song that way. | |
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!Ace Rhythm Player |
#12 by !Ace Youngs at Jun 1, 1997 at 8:08 PM EST |
| These lyrics are horribly off. Great song and great lyrics.. though these aren't them. Catchy tune. | |
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No Picture
mike Average |
#13 by mike duncan at Feb 28, 1999 at 3:05 AM EST |
| These are not the full lyrics. We steal that smile from your face We hear you cry We hear you wail We steal that smile from your face We see you laugh We see you dance We take that away everyday We see you cry We turn your head Then we slap your face Bow down with your life Head down, hide that smile Head high got to smile Head high got to smile We see you try We see you fail Some things never change We hear you cry We hear you wail We steal that smile from your face Bow down with your life Head down, hide that smile Head high got to smile Head high like a song you like | |
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zach Wanna Be |
#14 by zach lilly at Sep 7, 1999 at 4:17 AM EST |
| I agree with Lepra Messias' view on this. | |
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No Picture
Derek Lead Player |
#15 by Derek O'Kanos at Jul 26, 2001 at 8:07 PM EST |
| this song is seriously underrated, i think it's the best song on superunknown next to mailman and let me drown, and it's possibly one of my favorite songs of all time. i love the sad ambiguity of not only the lyrics but the melody and harmonies between the instruments. i'm going to agree with che45 and lepra messias on this, but i also think that it's about just generally being pushed down and forced to commit or submit to something oppressive. it's a very open song. | |
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Mike Average |
#16 by Mike Fraguglia at Nov 22, 2001 at 2:51 AM EST |
| This song is about oppressive governments or maybe oppressive groups in a society. It's about communist governments putting down the heads of its people even though they secretly smile. The governments keep trying to keep the heads down and keep them from having happiness. Eventually they torture them to steal the smiles from their face. It's like Vietnam; the government wants everyone to be miserable, and they'll do anything to keep the heads of its people down. | |
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Spanky Lead Player |
#17 by Spanky Man at Dec 29, 2002 at 2:16 AM EST |
| hi. this song is one of my big favourites lyrically and musically (Matt and Sheperd are doing really a gerat job in theis song --- listen to the end sequence --- awesome!) i think this song is about the SELF against the OTHERS. the whole song is told from the position of the "others", but in real it is about how the self feels about the whole thing. "We see you laugh We see you dance We take that away Every day" The self wants to laugh, dance, wants be happy. But it cannot because others take it away this happiness --- you need to hide your self from others, since if you do not you get vulnerable... they do not let you. And this is the game we play -- every day. "We see you cry We turn your hear Then we slap your face We see you try We see you fail Some things never change We hear you cry We hear you wail We steal that smile from your face We (the others) listen to your cries, but in real we do not feel sorry for you, we even slap in your face. If you smile: we will make you cry, you have no chance to be your own. the last lines: "Head down, hide that smile Head high got to smile" is about this whole "theater" called human life. It is kinda schizophreniac state of mind like we see it everyday: you cannot show your happiness if you are feeling happy... no. you have to hide it. And on the other hand, sometimes you need to put the smile on your face even if you are not feeling like it. | |
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No Picture
tim Lead Player |
#18 by tim sears at Nov 16, 2005 at 8:36 PM EST |
| ! I'm gonna have to third Lepra. The "see you cry, slap your face" lines seem to relate to an newborn. If you relate "face" with "cheek", then well, I guess doctors slap babys on their asses when they're born. The line that affects me is "Bow down with your life" because it's sad but true. You somehow belong to some collective from day one, and obey it, even though we're all fragile, sentient, intelligent creatures at birth. | |
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Da 1 n onli Mat Average |
#19 by Da 1 n onli Matt! goncalves at Apr 22, 2006 at 2:28 AM EST |
| Considering there's a picture of a baby in the original booklet of lyrics, I'd guess it's about babies. Sort of just the end of innocence and how cynicism develops. "head down" itself is exactly how this song feels : A person with a extremely unoptimistic view of the world who just trudges around frowning and being sad because others have convinced them the world has no hope. | |
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chOxY Rhythm Player |
#20 by chOxY at Mar 2, 2007 at 9:57 AM EST |
| Haven't got a clue what the hell it means... but it's one hell of a song.... I think it was written by Ben Shepard? | |
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Nic Rhythm Player |
#21 by Nic F at May 12, 2007 at 1:43 PM EST |
| This song fucking rocks. :) To me it's all about having a low self esteem and how music makes you feel better. I can totally relate. | |
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