Sometimes life it takes you by the hand
It puts you down before you know it
It's gone and you're dead again
I've been in places and I won't pretend
That I make it I just fall on my head
When it's strange to take a walk downstairs
Sweep you all up on a corner and pay for my bread
You know that I cannot believe my own truth
To show what a truth, it's got nothing to lose

Yeah yeah and it's okay
I tie my hands up to a chair so I don't fall that way
Yeah yeah and I'm alright
I took a sip of something poison but I'll hold on tight

You know those days when you wanted to choose
To not get out of bed and get lost in your head again
You play the game but you gotta cut
'Cause you're coming down hard your joints are off stud
I tried to say that's not the only way
I never knew if I could convince myself to change
You were pacing, I was insecure
Slip and fall I got the calls of the prison I was living in

Yeah yeah and it's okay
I tie my hands up to a chair so I don't fall that way
Yeah yeah and I'm alright
I took a sip of something poison but I'll hold on tight

Yeah yeah and it's okay
I tie my hands up to a chair so I don't fall that way
Yeah yeah and I'm alright
I took a sip of something poison, a sip of something poison

Yeah yeah and it's okay
I tie my hands up to a chair so I don't fall that way
Yeah yeah and I'm alright
I took a sip of something poison but I'll hold on tight

Yeah yeah and it's okay
I tie my hands up to a chair so I don't fall that way
Yeah yeah and I'm alright
I took a sip of something poison, a sip of something poison


Lyrics submitted by alexbottz, edited by smexybak, kickinggiant, dodgerblue

Helena Beat Lyrics as written by Mark Foster

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Helena Beat song meanings
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39 Comments

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  • +14
    Song Meaning

    i heard them say somewhere on an interview its about the la party scene. they made some glorious reference to that time when you come back from a party and think: now what? pretty relatable to any kid now or anyone who was ever a kid with a sense of adventure. you're just kind of wondering, fun is fun, but what comes next?

    ihavegoodtasteinmusicon May 23, 2011   Link
  • +12
    My Interpretation

    This song is autobiographical. Mr. Foster was a drug addict in his late teens. Tis correct that this song is about a typical drug addict in Los Angeles (as mentioned by another here) which Mr. Foster knows all too well from personal experience. The lyrics bear this out as they describe the emptiness and realization that this lifestyle was debilitating. However, the official video makes this all the more plain. Using imagery of a metropolis in ruins, a postcard suggesting that the city is a paradise as opposed to the actual ugly hell it is for most, and a clan of seemingly hostile children a la Children of the Corn or Lord of the Flies, who represent those who might try to intervene to save an addict from himself. At first they appear hostile and malevolent but in the end they are in fact the saviors, as they have rescued him and restored his lost youth.

    poet417on January 11, 2012   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    This song it comforting to me because he's generally talking about getting back on your feet when times get hard in life.

    Gbo93on July 07, 2011   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    Depression, for sure. I mean, everyone has their forms of depression. Everyone has that one thing to take the pain away. And I think that is what they are talking about in this song. I think that they are talking about the emotional hangover from a previous depressed night. Along with just depression in general. I don't know. I love this song. I love Foster The People. I feel like I can relate to all of their music. Everything they have written comes from a dark place. Or an extremely happy place. Bipolar? I don't know. I'd like to know. I love this Album. It is delicious.

    kaitlyntaylor123on October 14, 2011   Link
  • +4
    Lyric Correction

    Lyrics from the iTunes LP:

    Sometimes life it takes you by the hair Pulls you down before you know it, it's gone And you're dead again I've been places and I won't pretend Yeah I'd make it out just to fall on my head

    Wake up strange and take the walk downstairs Hit the pawn up on the corner and pay for my rent You know that I could not believe my own truth Just show them what I choose, got nothing to lose

    Yeah yeah and it's ok I tie my hands up to the chair so I don't fall that way Yeah yeah and I'm alright I took a sip of something poison but I'll hold on tight

    You know those days when you want to just choose To not get out of bed, you're lost in your head again You play the game but you kind of cut Cause you're coming down hard and your joints are all stuck

    I've tried to say that it's not the only way I never knew if I could face myself to change You were pacing, I was insecure Slip and fall, I'm dodging calls, hug the prison I've been living in

    nbdnbdnbdon June 01, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    this is a good song.. It just gives you the jolt you need for the day. Just stand up again.

    1watermelon1on July 10, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Foster the people are so deep with their lyrics!

    piecexoon September 02, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    love this one!!!

    adeleineeon February 07, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Lyric Correction

    I believe the lyric is "That I make it out just to fall on my head." instead of "That I make it I just follow my head."

    Eibwenon February 16, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Comparison

    this song is about the people who go out and party and get totally wasted and when they come back to their house and its a dump and they say now what like what ihavegoodtasteinmusic said thats what they said in an interview on AltNation a couple days ago

    colonel95on May 23, 2011   Link

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