Lady Gay Approximately Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Former dove comes back to the house
With blood on its wings and a bone in its mouth
He was on dr*gs or something
[Verse 2]
Mother asks about his health
And doesn’t know which of them needs the most help
Call the cops or something
[Chorus]
Everything stands on communication
If you can’t talk then there’s no escaping
Even if you could talk, no escaping this
If it’s a breakdown, then why won’t it break?
Why won’t it break?
[Verse 3]
And they both tremble silently
And wait, and wait, and finally he finds something
Some words
[Verse 4]
I heard what you said when I turned my back
How could it possibly still hurt?
This is where we’ve been at
Since thе fourth grade choir recital
[Verse 5]
I picked my battlеs just like you said
Some days I decide I would rather be dead
It’s the dead one you get
It’s the dead one you get
Keep the rest for myself
[Verse 6]
Still I could not let you go
Before you knew the way back home
Something happened to me before you were born
[Verse 7]
You appeared in a spark of light
Saying “I am the one who wants this life
If you’ll have me, I will come”
[Verse 8]
I’d prayed to God to give me this grace
A place for this pain, a smiling face
That could feel this with me
[Verse 9]
And you came in a coat of many colors
The shine of your feathers was like no other
Please wear it again, we swear we won’t hurt you
We swear we won’t hurt you this time
[Verse 10]
And you’re telling me not to say the name
But also you’re looking into my eyes and asking “Am I dead?”
No, you’re my son
[Outro]
“Am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am I dead?” (Am I dead?)
No, you’re my son (You’re my son)
“Am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am I dead?” (Am I dead?)
No, you’re my son (You’re my son)
Summary of this Song Lyrics
________________________________________
Car Seat Headrest’s “Lady Gay Approximately” song narrates a deeply emotional and intense conversation between a parent and their troubled child. The lyrics open with a haunting image of a once-innocent figure—described metaphorically as a dove—returning home wounded, symbolizing the child’s transformation through trauma, addiction, or mental illness. The parent is overwhelmed, unsure whether to respond with compassion or alarm.
Throughout the verses, the difficulty of communication is a central theme. The chorus emphasizes that everything hinges on being able to talk and connect; without that, there’s no escape from suffering. The silence between them is heavy, and when words finally come, they reveal years of unresolved pain and resentment—stretching back to childhood moments like a fourth-grade choir recital.
The lyrics explore cycles of trauma and emotional repression, with the child expressing feelings of despair and suicidal thoughts, while also clinging to the hope of being understood. There is a poignant shift when the parent recalls the child’s birth as a moment of light and grace—something deeply wished for and sacred. The child is seen as a blessing, described vividly in metaphors like a “coat of many colors” and shining feathers, conveying their uniqueness and preciousness.
Despite past harm, the parent pleads for a renewed connection, promising not to hurt the child again. The final verses confront mortality and identity, with the child asking, “Am I dead?” and the parent reassuring them with repeated affirmations: “No, you’re my son.” This repetition underscores a desperate need for recognition and grounding in love.
Overall, the song is a raw, poetic portrayal of familial love strained by mental health struggles, guilt, and the desperate longing for reconciliation. It speaks to the difficulty—and the necessity—of finding words in moments of deepest pain.
[Note: Every song Summary we share or publish in this website only depend on lyrics analysis, not from Artist own perspective.]
Lady Gay Approximately (MV)
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Audio Credits & Details
Artist : Car Seat Headrest
Album : The Scholars
Lyricist : Will Toledo, Seth DalbyAndrew Katz, Ethan Ives
Musicians : Will Toledo
Label : Matador Records
Genre: Pop
Date: May 2, 2025