Living Dead
Marina & the Diamonds Lyrics
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Stuck and I could never change
Sucked into a black balloon
Spat into an empty room
Was it really worth it?
Did I really deserve it?
It happens when you're hurtin'
And cut me at the surface of my heart
Of my heart
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Only alive, live, live, live
When I pretend, tend, tend, tend
That I have died, died, died, died, died, died
I haven't lived life, I haven't lived love
Just bird's-eye view from the sky above
I'm dead, dead, dead, dead
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Dead
Got bubble wrap around my heart
Waiting for my life to start
But everyday it never comes
Permanently at square one
When it's late at night
I'm so dissatisfied
The weight of an empty life
Will lessen in the moonlight
In the light
In the light, light, light
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Only alive, live, live, live
When I pretend, tend, tend, tend
That I have died, died, died, died, died, died
I haven't lived life, I haven't lived love
Just bird's-eye view from the sky above
I'm dead, dead, dead, dead
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Dead
I lay back in a glittering mist, and I
I think of all the men I, I could've kissed
I haven't lived my life, I haven't lived love
It's just a bird's-eye view from, from up above
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Only alive, live, live, live
When I pretend, tend, tend, tend
That I have died, died, died, died, died, died
I haven't lived life, I haven't lived love
Just bird's-eye view from the sky above
I'm dead, dead, dead, dead
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Dead
Dead, dead, dead, dead
Only alive, live, live, live
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Only alive, live, live, live
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Only alive, live, live, live
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Dead
"Living Dead" is a song by Marina and The Diamonds where she describes her feeling of being trapped in life and feeling stagnant. Every day feels the same way and she cannot seem to change or move forward. She feels like she is living life as a dead person, waiting for it to start. The line "Got bubble wrap around my heart" implies that she is trying to protect herself from being hurt. The lyrics suggest that Marina feels unfulfilled with the direction of her life, and often feels a lack of worth.
The chorus of the song highlights how she feels like she is only truly alive when she is pretending to be dead. This could be interpreted as losing herself in her creative work or perhaps in her fantasies. When she lays back in a "glittering mist," she thinks of all the men she could have kissed, suggesting that her mundane existence causes her to think of what could have been. She feels like she has not lived life or love and that her perspective on life is only from a distance, from a bird’s-eye view in the sky.
Overall, the song emphasizes the feeling of being stuck and unfulfilled. Marina highlights the idea that it is hard to get unstuck once you feel trapped. She feels like she is living dead, and waiting for life to start.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyday I feel the same
The monotony of life has taken over and there seems to be no way out.
Stuck and I could never change
Feeling trapped and unable to change the situation.
Sucked into a black balloon
Being pulled into a dark and ominous place that feels suffocating.
Spat into an empty room
Rejected and left in a lonely and isolated place.
Was it really worth it?
Questioning if the choices made were worth the consequences.
Did I really deserve it?
Feeling guilty and wondering if the punishment fits the crime.
It happens when you're hurtin'
Making poor decisions when in emotional pain.
And cut me at the surface of my heart
Feeling exposed and vulnerable to pain.
I'm living dead, dead, dead, dead
Existing without truly living or experiencing life.
Only alive, live, live, live
Feeling truly alive only when pretending to be someone else or in a different situation.
When I pretend, tend, tend, tend
Finding solace in imagining a different reality or version of oneself.
That I have died, died, died, died, died, died
Escaping the pain of life by metaphorically dying inside.
I haven't lived life, I haven't lived love
Feeling as though important parts of life have been missed or skipped.
Just bird's-eye view from the sky above
An outsider looking in at life and love.
Got bubble wrap around my heart
Having a protective shield around the heart to avoid further hurt.
Waiting for my life to start
Feeling as though life has not truly begun and waiting for something to kickstart it.
But everyday it never comes
The long-awaited change or starting point never seems to arrive.
Permanently at square one
Stuck in the same place despite efforts to move forward.
When it's late at night
In moments of quiet or darkness, the true feelings and disappointments of life come to light.
I'm so dissatisfied
Feeling unfulfilled and discontent with the way things are.
The weight of an empty life
The gravity and heaviness of a life that feels insignificant or meaningless.
Will lessen in the moonlight
Finding comfort or relief in a peaceful night, away from the busyness of the day.
I lay back in a glittering mist, and I
Imagining a moment of relaxation and beauty, but even that does not bring true joy or fulfillment.
I think of all the men I, I could've kissed
Reflecting on missed opportunities for love and connection.
I haven't lived my life, I haven't lived love
Acknowledging that life and love have yet to be truly experienced.
I'm dead, dead, dead, dead
Living a life that feels lifeless and dull.
Dead
Existing without really living or feeling alive.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marina Lambrini Diamandis, Greg Kurstin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind