Equals Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Well, he was not a close friend, he was hardly a friend at all –
I was as surprised as you’d be when he asked if we could call
He said:
“I’ve been scrolling through my contacts, but there’s no one left to text”
“I just needed to talk to someone who doesn’t hate me yet”
[Verse 2]
I’d engaged in some debating of his guilt with folks I knew
There was something in his voice that said the worst of it was true
“Oh, they’ve really done it to me, I can’t bеar to hear my name”
“I used to know my rеal one, now it’s covered up with shame”
[Chorus 1]
Without a defense I stand
And ask if there’s something left to save
‘Cause what was the point of these hands
If they could give nothing but pain?
[Verse 3]
If I’m not what I’m supposed to be
If the front can’t hold anymore
Could you retain any hope in me?
Or leave me to drown in the feedback, cords ’round my feet, jackdaw at my breast
The devil’s familiar comes every night
He’s listening to every breath –
And am I guilty again?
And is that all that I am?
[Verse 4]
I have laughed it off as crazy in the company of peers
But as you are my equal I’ll be honest with you here –
That it’s way too raw to talk about with the distance that I’d like
I don’t feel good about it now and I won’t when I look back…
[Chorus 2]
Without a defense I stand
And ask you to take me back again
‘Cause what was the point of these hands
If they could give nothing but pain?
[Outro]
Oh, that hero you thought
Could show you the light from the distance
And now that you know that I’m not
Could you get by with the difference?
By with the difference?
By with the difference?
Summary of this Song Lyrics
_______________________________________
Car Seat Headrest’s “Equals” song This song explores the emotional and moral crisis of a person grappling with guilt, alienation, and the fear of being irredeemable. The narrative begins with a man reaching out unexpectedly—someone the artist barely knows—seeking solace because everyone else has turned away from him. This sets the stage for a confessional dialogue where the man admits to past actions that have led to his isolation and shame. His desperation is evident as he reflects on how his identity has been overshadowed by the weight of his misdeeds.
As the song progresses, the artist wrestles with how to respond. They recall having debated the man’s guilt, now confronted by its painful reality. The man’s words evoke a haunting self-awareness: he questions whether there’s anything left in him worth saving, suggesting that his actions have caused irreparable harm. Vivid imagery—like drowning in feedback or being visited nightly by the “devil’s familiar”—symbolizes the torment and inescapability of his conscience.
Despite efforts to minimize the situation among others, the artist admits that the pain is still raw and unresolved. This vulnerability marks a turning point: a plea for understanding and the possibility of forgiveness. The repeated chorus emphasizes the futility of the man’s hands, which were meant to help but only caused pain, reinforcing the tragic irony of good intentions gone awry.
In the outro, the artist addresses the listener directly, acknowledging the disillusionment they’ve caused. They ask whether, now that their flaws are visible, they can still be accepted—not as a hero, but as someone flawed. The song closes on a fragile hope: that the difference between who they were believed to be and who they truly are is something that can still be lived with.
[Note: Every song Summary we share or publish in this website only depend on lyrics analysis, not from Artist own perspective.]
Equals (MV)
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Audio Credits & Details
Artist : Car Seat Headrest
Album : The Scholars
Lyricist : Andrew Katz, Will Toledo, Ethan Ives, Seth Dalby
Musicians : Will Toledo
Label : Matador Records
Genre: Pop
Date: May 2, 2025
