Fractured Souls: A Quest for Wholeness | Two-Headed Boy | Neutral Milk Hotel

Two-Headed Boy is a song by American indie folk band Neutral Milk Hotel, from their 1998 album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. The song's lyrics are often cryptic and open to interpretation, but they seem to revolve around themes of identity, fragmentation, and the search for meaning.

The opening lines "I'm not a businessman, I can fix it" suggest a sense of self-doubt and uncertainty, as if the narrator is questioning their own abilities. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Two-Headed Boy's got two heads", may be referring to a split or dual identity - one that is at odds with itself.

The lyrics also contain references to childhood memories and fantastical scenarios, such as "He's got a dog that's made of bone" and "He's got a car that's made of stone". These images could represent the narrator's own fragmented psyche, with different aspects or personas vying for dominance.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing and searching, as if the narrator is trying to reconcile disparate parts of themselves. The line "I'm not a businessman, I can fix it" takes on a new meaning in this context - perhaps the narrator is trying to mend their own fractured identity.

Musically, Two-Headed Boy features Neutral Milk Hotel's signature blend of lo-fi production and lush orchestration, with a focus on acoustic guitar and harmonies. The song builds towards a crescendo, with layers of sound and texture creating a sense of tension and release.

Despite its ambiguous lyrics, Two-Headed Boy has become one of Neutral Milk Hotel's most beloved songs, with fans interpreting it in countless ways. Whether seen as a reflection of personal struggles or a meditation on the human condition, the song remains a powerful and moving work.