Here I Lay My Burden Down: A Rallying Cry from I Am Hologram by Ishmael Nihil

There’s a moment in Here I Lay My Burden Down—a single by I Am Hologram—when the lyrics hit like a sucker punch to the soul, and you realize this isn’t just a song. It’s a manifesto, a declaration, a line drawn firmly in the sand. Recorded at Lava Lake Studio in Phoenix, Arizona, with Bentley from Snailmate on drums and Ari Leopold on bass, this track is a raw, relentless exploration of defiance and liberation.

The opening lines set the tone like a cowboy squaring up for a duel:
"You can put away your last shiny tooth
My meat may be lean but it's hard to chew."
It’s not just clever wordplay; it’s the battle cry of someone who’s tired of being underestimated and ready to stand their ground.

The production is refreshingly unpolished, leaving space for every element to breathe. Bentley’s drumming drives the track like a freight train through a storm, while Ari Leopold’s bassline doesn’t just hold the groove—it’s the glue holding this defiant anthem together.

Then there’s the voice. I Am Hologram doesn’t just sing; they deliver lyrics like a sermon, with enough grit to leave a mark. The chorus cuts through the noise with clarity and conviction:
"I’m tired of pandering to people who don’t want me around
I’m just trying to laugh while they’re making me frown
Here is where I lay my burden down."

Each verse builds on the last, culminating in a fiery declaration of independence:
"The gloves have come off & you might want to pray
This is how I deal with all my s** these days
And if it makes you sad then Hell, you probably deserve it."*

But it’s not just the music that packs a punch. The accompanying video, created by Richard Nihil using AI technology from LTX Studio, is a surreal, visceral counterpart to the track. It’s a journey through distorted imagery that mirrors the song’s themes of defiance and self-liberation. This isn’t just a music video—it’s a companion piece, amplifying the emotional weight of the song.

Here I Lay My Burden Down isn’t content to sit quietly in the background. It demands attention, calls out societal hypocrisy, and invites listeners to cast off their own burdens. This track is a reminder that liberation often comes at the cost of confrontation, but the fight is worth it.

Bold, unrelenting, and deeply human, Here I Lay My Burden Down is I Am Hologram at their most unapologetic—and it’s a journey you won’t soon forget.

You can put away your last shiny tooth
My meat may be lean but it's hard to chew
That look in your eye says "I'll tear you limb from limb"

I'm tired of pandering to people who don’t want me around
I'm just trying to laugh while they're making me frown
Here is where I lay my burden down

I can feel your judgement on the roof of my mouth
Begging and pleading to bite its way out
You're the judge, jury, and executioner
But I am not your prisoner

I'm tired of this town always playing me like a clown
This planet ain't the only one to which I am bound
Here is where I lay my burden down

I'll tell you the truth and I ain't gonna lie
Revenge is a song that makes me feel alive
When you look in the mirror I bet you wanna die
You can't deal with your reflection
Here's my resignation

The gloves have come off & you might want to pray
This is how I deal with all my s*** these days
And if it makes you sad then Hell, you probably deserve it