Pretty Little Head
Written 2001 (and August 2003) by Michael Giammatteo

Pretty Little Head – is about trying to understand a child who is difficult to reach. This is, probably, the only bouncy pop song ever written about sensory integration disorder. I remember writing the verse while driving my daughter to day care one morning in 2001. The song popped into my head again in August of 2003 and I wrote the chorus, in my head, while at work. It took me a long time to figure out a bridge that worked for this song. We went through a few of them. In this song I changed my son’s gender because I foolishly rhymed “autistic” with “lipstick”.

This recording had a bit of a strange history. David & I had recorded an earlier version. I liked the tempo & feel of it, but not the quality of the sounds or the bridge. So David methodically recorded all new guitar & bass parts over the original recording and I did all new vocals. Then I wrote a new bridge & edited the finished recording so that enough empty space was in the middle to accommodate it. Then David came back & laid down bass & guitars to that piece & I did the vocals. Poor Matt had to lay down drums while listening to both the new tracks & the original recording. Once that was down, I stripped away the original recording & did a quick mix for Andy to come by & add his lead guitar.

Musicians:
Pretty Little Head
David: bass, guitars
Michael: vocals, keyboards
Matt: drums
Andy: lead guitar

PRETTY LITTLE HEAD

I called her name repeatedly, but she never even acknowledged me
Like she was autistic, she put on her lipstick
And left without saying a thing

She’s so afraid that common sense is only maintained through supplements
A processing error has led her to terror
And left me again wondering

What’s inside your pretty little head
Lying in your bed alone
Can’t decide what I thought you just said
Turn away instead, oh

I cannot trust the spoken word, I’ve come to find out that what I heard
Is not what she said inside of her head
And open to interpreting

What’s inside your pretty little head
Lying in your bed alone
Can’t decide what I thought you just said
Turn away instead, oh

I’d go uphill if I were so inclined
I’m always the brain but nevermind nevermind nevermind nevermind

Distracted by the sound of the beautiful noises inside of her
Withdrawn from sensation, informed isolation
And still I don’t know what to think

What’s inside your pretty little head
Lying in your bed alone
Can’t decide what I thought you just said
Turn away instead, oh