Something Soon
Car Seat Headrest
A Cry for Change: The Desperation in 'Something Soon' by Car Seat Headrest
Car Seat Headrest's 'Something Soon' is a raw and visceral exploration of frustration, mental anguish, and the desperate need for change. The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone grappling with intense emotional turmoil and a sense of stagnation. The opening lines, 'Biting my clothes to keep from screaming / Taking pills to keep from dreaming,' immediately set a tone of suppressed agony and a struggle to maintain control. The desire to 'break something important' and 'kick my dad in the shins' reflects a deep-seated anger and a yearning to disrupt the status quo.
The recurring refrain, 'I need something soon,' underscores the protagonist's urgent need for a shift in their circumstances. This plea is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the intensity of their desperation. The imagery of 'heavy boots on my throat' conveys a suffocating pressure, while the inability to 'talk to my folks' highlights a sense of isolation and disconnection from those who might offer support. The mention of 'only one change of clothes' and 'fingers are froze' suggests a state of neglect and a lack of basic necessities, further amplifying the sense of urgency.
The song also delves into themes of escapism and self-destruction. Lines like 'Binging on the latest sitcom / Feeling guilty every second it's on' and 'I want to put my foot through a window' reveal a struggle to find solace in distractions, only to be met with guilt and a desire for more drastic actions. The repeated call to 'burn this house down' serves as a metaphor for a complete and radical transformation, a desire to obliterate the current state of being and start anew. This powerful imagery encapsulates the song's core message: a profound need for change and the lengths one might go to achieve it.