“Two-Headed Boy” is an example of Jeff Mangum’s brilliant writing on Neutral Milk Hotel’s sophomore album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

The lyrics most directly alludes to Anne Frank’s isolation while in… Read More [Verse 1]

Two-headed boy

All floating in glass

The sun, it has passed

Now it's blacker than black

I can hear as you tap on your jar

And I am listening to hear where you are

I am listening to hear where you are

[Verse 2]

Two-headed boy

Put on Sunday shoes

And dance round the room to accordion keys

With the needle that sings in your heart

Catching signals that sound in the dark

Catching signals that sound in the dark

[Chorus]

We will take off our clothes

And they'll be placing fingers

Through the notches in your spine

And when all is breaking

Everything that you could keep inside

Now your eyes ain't moving, now

They just lay there in their climb

[Verse 3]

Two-headed boy

With pulleys and weights

Creating a radio played just for two

In the parlor with a moon across her face

And through the music he sweetly displays

Silver speakers that sparkle all day

Made for his lover who's floating and choking with her hands across her face

[Chorus]

And in the dark we will take off our clothes

And they'll be placing fingers through the notches in your spine

And when all is breaking

Everything that you could keep inside

Now your eyes ain't moving, now

They just lay there in their climb

[Verse 4]

Two-headed boy

There's no reason to grieve

The world that you need is wrapped in gold silver sleeves

Left beneath Christmas trees in the snow

And I will take you and leave you alone

Watching spirals of white softly flow

Over your eyelids and all you did

Will wait until the point when you let go