Chuck Schaaf - Guitar, Vocals
Alan Short - Guitar
Jay Minish - Guitar
Reid Raley - Bass, Vocals
Phillip Schaaf - Drums, Vocals
Sadness Distilled
Deadbird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in this struggle
the flesh holds together
the tide of mortality
limbs maintain motion
prolonging this prison
the soul stained
like the winter sky on fire
we reach inside the flame
to pull away the veil
you diguise the wise
the shame
you discard the truth as blame
let it evolve
past this mindless barage
of selling shit
let it all burn,
we'll burn as well
you splinter the past
changing present into hell.
In these lyrics from Deadbird's "Sadness Distilled," the singer reflects on the human experience of mortality and the struggle to maintain balance in life. The head symbolizes the rational mind that allows us to navigate the world, while the flesh represents our physical bodies and the limitations inherent in being mortal. The limbs that "prolong" our time in this prison of existence, suggest a sense of resignation to the body's inevitable decline.
But the singer does not resign themselves to this reality without critique. They call for a rejection of the shallow consumer culture that dominates contemporary life, which they describe as a "mindless barage of selling shit." The singer sees through the artifice of these systems of consumption, recognizing that they "splinter the past" and create present-day "hell."
Overall, "Sadness Distilled" presents a meditation on life's fragility, and calls for a deeper engagement with the world beyond the superficiality of everyday existence.
Line by Line Meaning
the head keeps the balance of life
The mind controls and maintains a balance in life.
in this struggle
In this ongoing fight.
the flesh holds together
Our bodies keep us whole.
the tide of mortality
The inevitable force of death.
limbs maintain motion
Our limbs keep us moving.
prolonging this prison
Extending the sentence of living in this world.
the soul stained
Our inner being is tainted.
like the winter sky on fire
Burning like a cold winter's sky.
we reach inside the flame
We try to understand the fire within.
to pull away the veil
To reveal what was hidden.
you disguise the wise
You hide the truth.
the shame
This facade is shameful.
you discard the truth as blame
You disregard the truth as a fault.
let it evolve
Let it progress.
past this mindless barrage
Beyond this meaningless attack.
of selling shit
Of promoting meaningless products.
let it all burn,
Let everything perish.
we'll burn as well
We will suffer the consequences.
you splinter the past
You destroy the past and its memories.
changing present into hell.
Transforming the present into a living nightmare.
Contributed by Ian H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.