I've been gone forever
Lost in my own zone
Wandering a wasteland
Trapped here all alone
No one here to help me
No one even cares
So I became the ruler
Of the land of despair
Tried to catch the fast lane

But I was left behind
Now I'm only chasing
The colors in my mind
Dreams were made for mortals
None were left for me
So I'm living backwards
The past is all I see
The past is all I see

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Saint Vitus's song Living Backwards describe a sense of hopelessness and despair. The singer of the song feels lost and alone, wandering through a wasteland without any help or support. In this state of loneliness, he becomes the ruler of his own imagined world - a land full of despair. He describes how he tried to catch up with others, but he was left behind, and now he's only chasing the colors in his mind.

As the song progresses, we learn that the singer feels as though dreams were made for mortals and not for him. The only thing he can see is the past - his present and future seem bleak. He is living his life in reverse, with the past looming larger than anything he can see in the present or the future. The lyrics convey a sense of melancholy and sadness, but also hint at the singer's resilience and determination to keep going, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been gone forever
I've been absent from reality for what seems like an eternity

Lost in my own zone
Trapped in my own thoughts, unable to break free

Wandering a wasteland
Roaming aimlessly through life's barren landscape

Trapped here all alone
Confined to this place, with nobody to keep me company

No one here to help me
No assistance or guidance from anyone else

No one even cares
No one possesses any concern or desire to assist

So I became the ruler
In absence of anyone to lead me, I decided to lead myself

Of the land of despair
The realm of hopelessness and misery

Tried to catch the fast lane
Attempted to succeed quickly and with great efficiency

But I was left behind
I was unable to keep up and missed out

Now I'm only chasing
I'm pursuing with vigor