Car Seat Headrest's Underrated Masterpiece: IWYTKIA/IHYA | Song of the Month

For November's song of the month, I analyze Car Seat Headrest's "I Want You To Know That I'm Awake/I Hope You're Asleep" off of the 2014 album: How To Leave Town.
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Listen to How To Leave Town: carseatheadres...
All music written and performed by Will Toledo, under the name "Car Seat Headrest" is used here under fair use.

[@notghosty8864]

I really like the lines "it doesn't matter what I say, if you don't say anything in response, the final phrase of my last sentence hangs in the air, sounding stupider and stupider" and the lines coming after to be a big factor into his anger he's trying to bubble up, his lover either purposefully or unaware that they are not caring about what he truly has to say, especially when he pleas for a response saying how hard it was for him to find the right words, yet it seems they don't give him one and that part especially is a highlight of this song for me, also I like the use of the space cadet from the unused album cover lol, I'm loving these videos

[@quoteth]

Hard agree on those lines, wish I had actually dug into them, but I didn't want to just play the ENTIRE song lol. P.S. I've always preferred the older cover bc I love the imagery of Will as this Space Cadet thrust into the world, leaving town kind of feeling like leaving the world he's known all his life, now helplessly drifting through the unknown

[@notghosty8864]

@@quoteth never thought of it that way actually, nice

[@twitchy4890]

That verse is extremely interesting to me and I think that I finally understand what it’s actually talking about. You’re right in the sense that it’s about someone not caring about what you have to say, but I’m pretty sure it goes even deeper than that to some very very specific scenarios that Will is speaking to. In essence, I think the song as a whole is about being in a relationship with a very insecure person, whose insecurities manifest in two ways: Needing to have “power” over pretty much everyone in their life, and sensitivity. What I think that verse it talking about is what was probably a common exchange between Will and his partner, in which Will would say either something regarding his feelings, or just say some pretty normal shit that would be taken the wrong way by his partner. At any rate, Will would probably say thing, only for his partner to have some adverse reaction without explaining why what he said upset them, and then go completely silent leaving Will to formulate some sort of apology or explanation in the silence, hence the “if you don’t say anything in response” line. This is a pretty common tactic that manipulative people use to get their way because it makes their victim feel like they’re the one in the wrong so they don’t question the person who is manipulating them.

[@cmegan06]

I've always loved this song but it hits really hard now that I just got out of a bad relationship, I understand it on a much deeper level. I really love the guitar solo after "I am not the type of man who can fall asleep in someone else's hands" too. I have also now felt the very specific and slightly spiteful feeling of wanting someone to know you're awake after fighting (as an indirect way to express how much it bothered and upset you) but hoping they're asleep so that you don't have to confront them and it can be over

[@twitchy4890]

I know exactly what you mean. It took me forever to really understand this song and I think it’s the kinda thing where you’ll only ever grasp what it truly means if you actually go through what it’s talking about.

[@gregslist.criminal4245]

Love this song so much, my body recoils in physical pain just from hearing the intro

[@maddiemac55530]

This is my favorite Car Seat Headrest song and one of my top favorite songs, and this is coming from an absolute music lover. This song has pure feeling behind it and not just the voice and lyrics show this pain but also the instruments. How it is minor when the singer is going through the struggles of the relationship and the song goes to major when he has hope that they will get through. The first haft is with the guitar dragging on, which is what he felt with the bad, that it’s just a constant drag, but when he becomes hopeful that they will get through this rough patch, the guitar gets louder and louder, making him scream in the end, kind of pumping him up to know that he does has faith in the relationship. The very end is absolutely gorgeous, kind of like a lullaby, making him hope that his lover is still dream, and that he could dream with them.

[@girlhag]

I had never thought of it this way before, but the ending of this video made me think. Maybe that soft acoustic outro represents something. The fact that all of this loudness, all of this yelling that he just conjured up, all of this distortion that he is so well known for, it’s not gonna solve anything for their relationship. maybe what they really need is something soothing, something more sweet, something more gentle, like that guitar.

[@quoteth]

Ooh that's such a cool way of looking at it, especially because it's the first time in the whole song he manages out the full title

[@schrodingersbraincell5861]

Yessss! Finally some recognition for iwytnia/ihya! It hits so hard emotionally

[@ccosmic.starzz]

This is by far my favourite song of all time. While the song describes a romantic relationship, I find it really resonates with my relationship with my mother, and what it felt like when I lived with her

[@bkvbypsycko4140]

I really hope car seat headrest has a tour again I miss will and I hope he gets better soon :(

[@quoteth]

Same, I saw them back in April and it was AMAZING

[@hikaritheninth]

ah what’s going on with him??

[@quoteth]

@@hikaritheninth Been sick for awhile, had to cancel their tour

[@hikaritheninth]

@@quoteth awww damn hope gets better soon then

[@bugscout]

You make me love car seat headrest more than i already do!

[@quoteth]

Genuinely amazing to hear lol, all I aim to do is give ppl a deeper understanding/appreciation for what I think is art deserving of it

[@bobbyneutron9898]

Thank you for analyzing this song. It is one of my favorite songs by them, and it has been ever since I related very heavily to it in my most recent relationship... anyways I feel like with the line "I love you sometimes I love you but sometimes I feel like I don't know, I can't love anything in this world," I feel like it shows more of a doomed love, at least that's how I look at it and how I related to it so heavily. I view it like he is trying to convince himself that he loves them, but really he doesn't know, and can't even convince himself he loves anything. I relate it back to Monomania (Misheard Lyrics), where he says it was nothing special/sacred, just hands held, shoulders rubbed, voices touched. It is like you don't even necessarily love the person, just an idea of them? Maybe I am just giving my own personal meaning to the lyric that isn't there though, I don't know...

[@bobbyneutron9898]

another song about a broken relationship that I think made me feel similarly to IWYTKIA/IHYA is Jus' Tired from Nervous Young Man. A dive into that song would be a good video that could go more into the idea I explored in this comment...

[@REY3727]

@@bobbyneutron9898 quoteth if u r thinking of doing a video on jus' tired then maybe hold out on it cuz I am thinking of doing one on it actually. I have never made a video so it might not be good and if it's not u can make a better one, but it is a very personal song to me and I am definitely considering makign a video on it instead of just suggesting someone else to, since i gotta lot to say on it (these are different accounts for teh smae person btw)

[@saintlouievhs]

i just found this song literally earlier this week and i’ve been obsessed with it, it’s my favorite CSH song atm. very happy you made a video on it (((:

[@quoteth]

oh wow literal perfect timing then! easily my favorite song off of HTLT and one of my favorites from csh as a whole, just had to talk about it.

[@skrev1697]

I love the opening track on this album the most (the ending of Dramamine) because of how spacey and dreamlike it feels. Everything about this album is a 10/10

[@Soul-jo4mn]

This was was my favourite song in thus album and i never really know why…maybe its because i related to it so much, your breakdown was very well done love your vids man

[@quoteth]

Thanks! Glad I could give you a deeper connection to this song

[@theofficialshed3690]

best song ever made

[@leaoraissa]

great job with this analysis! I love this song so much, I believe it to be one of the most sincere songs I've ever heard. it exposes situations and brings so much nuance to them, it's very easy to understand the feelings contained in this song. the part where he's listing other people's relationships as examples, trying to convince himself that this has been a good thing for him... IMO, the double meaning of the title is also genius: I want you to know that I'm awake alone feeling terrible about our fight/problems / I hope you're asleep so we don't have to face them; and: I want you to know that I can't take this anymore and want to break up / I hope you still want to pursue this relationship and never contemplates leaving. I also think this isn't about the same relationship discussed in TF and Monomania (and also, as you suggested, The Gun Song), but I do think it is probably the same one displayed on Homes, Broken Birds (Rest in Pieces), Don't Remind Me and Jus' Tired, all from Nervous Young Man.

[@communistcshlover]

I'm so obsessed with this channel and all the Car Seat Headrest content it proposes. I hope more people join your channel because you deserve it, your videos are amazing ♥︎

[@quoteth]

Thank you!! I'll be diversifying what I make content on soon hopefully, but I'll never stop making csh content as long as I have material to talk about

[@p1xelat3d]

Beast monster thing and America (never been) will always be my favorites from this album They make me feel more since I think I relate more to the lyrics

[@koishikomeiji1387]

THIS WAS ONE OF MY TOP SONGS ON SPOTIFY IN 2023 I LOVE IT SO MUCH

[@toastypenny]

glad this PERFECT song is getting the attention that it deserves

[@malik-kg7kq]

love your videos, would like seeing one about the ballad of the costa concordia or dreams fall hard (or the entire nervous young man album)

[@quoteth]

Love both those songs, I'll keep them in mind!

[@valkyrie2832]

This has always been my favorite song on HTLT and one of my favorite csh songs in general, and I’ve never really heard anyone mention it. This song is super underrated, thank you for doing a video on it!

[@quoteth]

Same! I feel like it's such a gem in the discography

[@violet-beck]

so grateful to the youtube algorithm for recommending this to me. really great analysis and cute visuals :>

[@quoteth]

Thanks! Glad to know the YT algorithm is favoring me a little lol

[@holysoup2954]

one of my favourite songs ever and album goddd its sooo good youre so on point. i would listen to you talk about music forever. also the kimochi warui part lmao. good stuff as always 👍

[@quoteth]

thanks! that bit wasn't even in the script, just realized i didn't know how to say it while i was recording and decided to keep it in lol

[@cecil6250]

this song is so deeply relatable rn, great analysis

[@Ace-yx9vv]

thank you for this analysis! this song along with kimochi warui was what introduced me to car seat headrest, its such a great and underrated song.

[@timaeusTechnopath]

This is one my favorite songs ever

[@tuvanystrom3956]

KZbin recommendations strikes again! I love csh, and this was a great analysis of a great song of one of my favorite albums. Keep doing these, I´m excited for more csh!

[@quoteth]

Crazy to think KZbin is recommending my stuff to people lol Glad you enjoyed!

[@elliottramsey9463]

I will go crazy about crow cillars deep dive I am so excited

[@quoteth]

Hopefully this month or next month!!

[@gwendeseminat8r]

G PLEASE DO TTHE CROW CILLERS THING THE FANDOM NEEDS U

[@quoteth]

STILL WORKING ON IT 🫡

[@gwendeseminat8r]

@@quoteth cate wurtz/will toledo intertextuality is blessed i think

[@the_only_way7808]

Great video. Just found your channel and I love the way you tackled this analysis. This is probably my favourite album of all time. Really interested to check out your other videos and future content. GL man.

[@quoteth]

Appreciate it!!

[@100guics3]

I really love your videos

[@hucklebucklin]

I absolutely love this song, thank you for giving it the analysis it deserves. It is a total standout on that album, I just keep listening to it over and over rather than the rest. I see both sides of the relationship as messed up. The very last "no we're nothing like them" bit has definitely made me cry at least once 😢 i love the live version Toledo did on stream where he was like "i forget the next couple in the song" 😅 Though it could do with a shorter name cos i constantly forget the name 😅

[@poawinnkgsa]

Great vid, really exited for the future of this channel :)

[@quoteth]

Thanks!

[@aidan1039]

beautiful video, honestly a top 5 song from them

[@onoderarintaro5179]

i listened to this song on repeat all the time after a shitty break up i had and now i can't really enjoy it like i used to

[@user-zu7mu2jp5f]

This song is definitely one of my favorites

[@ladymilliejean4166]

i love it

[@alexisga7462]

Really cool, is the "The Gun Song" video still coming out?

[@quoteth]

It's still coming along, yeah! I've got a huge schedule of stuff slated to come out, just kind of waiting on getting a better microphone before I tackle any more big projects

[@dgbeck]

really excited for the future of this channel, loved this and the twin fantasy video and the only reason i havent watched the monomania video yet is bc i’ve actually yet to listen to the album lmao. keep it up homie 👍

[@quoteth]

I hope you enjoy it whenever you do get around to it, thanks for sticking around and watching the channel lol 👍 much appreciated

[@Fujiwaratofudeliveryman]

Resent

[@reginademaio6118]

i am sorry but the audio is genuinely difficult to listen to. i dont mean this as a hate comment, just feedback. hopefully you can afford some better equipment soon

[@quoteth]

Yeah, I'm aware lol. I appreciate you not coming at it from a hateful angle, hope one day you can find your way back here once I get some better shit 👍

[@2meowmeows]

this is my least favourite song of all time, all the way at the bottom

[@pink_bee6563]

🙁