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Dead Sea
The Lumineers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I stood alone, upon the platform in vain
The Puerto Ricans they were playing me salsa in the rain
With open doors and manual locks
In fast-food parking lots

I headed West, I was a man on the move
New York had lied to me, I needed the truth
Oh, I need somebody, I needed someone I could trust
I don't gamble, but if I did I would bet on us

Like the Dead Sea
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You'll never sink when you are with me
Oh Lord, like the Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
Finest words you ever said to me
Honey, can't you see?
I was born to be, be your Dead Sea

You told me you were good at running away
Domestic life, it never suited you like a suitcase
You left with just the clothes on your back
Took the rest when you took a nap

Yes, there are times we live for somebody else
Your father died and you decided to live
It for yourself, you felt, you just felt it was time
And I'm glad, 'cause you with cats, that's just not right

Like the Dead Sea
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You'll never sink when you are with me
Oh Lord, I'm your Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea (dead sea)
The nicest words you ever said to me (said to me)
Honey, can't you see?
I was born to be, be your Dead Sea

I've been down, I've been defeated
You're the message I was heeding
Would you stay
Would you stay the night? Ooh

Dead Sea
Told me I was like the Dead Sea
Never sink when you are with me
Oh Lord, I'm your Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea (dead sea)
The nicest words you ever said to me (said to me)
Honey, can't you see?
I was born to be your Dead Sea

Overall Meaning

The Lumineers Dead Sea is a song that tells the story of two people who find each other and build trust despite their past struggles. In the first verse, the singer is feeling lost and alone, standing on a platform waiting for someone to come along. He is surrounded by Puerto Ricans playing salsa music in the rain, but he feels disconnected from them. The lyrics "with open doors and manual locks, in fast food parking lots" paint a picture of transience and a lack of permanence. He's moving West, searching for something to believe in. He's been lied to and needs someone to trust.


The chorus brings in the metaphor of the Dead Sea, which is known for being extremely salty and thus impossible to sink in. When the singer is with the person he loves, he feels like he can't sink either. The singer is like the Dead Sea, in that he is full of salt, like tears he's cried, mistakes he's made, and struggles he's overcome. His partner tells him that he'll never sink when he's with her. It's a romantic sentiment, and the chorus repeats several times, reinforcing the idea of safety and trust in the relationship.


In the second verse, we learn more about the woman the singer loves. She's someone who has been running away from a domestic life that never suited her. She left with just the clothes on her back, and her journey has taken her to a place where she can more fully live for herself. The singer recognizes the value in living for oneself, and he's happy that she's found that place. He's comfortable being himself around her, and even though the idea of being with someone who has cats is not his preference, he's willing to do it for her.


Overall, the song Dead Sea tells a story of two people who have found each other and built a relationship despite their individual struggles. They bring out the best in each other and support each other in their journey towards self-discovery.


Line by Line Meaning

I stood alone, upon the platform in vain
I was by myself, waiting at a train station hoping for something that wasn't going to happen


Puerto Ricans they were playing me salsa in the rain
There were some Puerto Ricans playing salsa music in the rain, but it didn't change the fact that I was alone and feeling down


With open doors and manual locks
The train station had doors that were open and locks that you had to use manually


In fast food parking lots
I was in parking lots of fast food restaurants waiting for something to happen


I headed West, I was a man on the move
I decided to go west to find the truth


New York had lied to me, I needed the truth
I felt like New York was not being truthful with me, so I had to leave


Oh, I need somebody, I needed someone I could trust
I was looking for someone who I could trust as I felt lost and alone


I don't gamble, but if I did I would bet on us
I don't usually take risks, but if I had to, I would take a chance on us being together


Like the Dead Sea
Just like the Dead Sea, where you can never sink, you told me I was something similar to that


You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You compared me to the Dead Sea where you can never sink and remain afloat


You'll never sink when you are with me
You promised that you would always be there to save me


Oh Lord, like the Dead Sea
You uttered it as if it was a prayer or a blessing for me, hoping I would be as immovable as the Dead Sea


Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
I embraced your comparison and expressed acceptance that I was unchangeable and immovable


The finest words you ever said to me
Your comparison to the Dead Sea was maybe the sweetest flatter I had ever received from you


Honey can't you see
I hope you understand that being your Dead Sea, immovable and reliable, is what I was born to be


I was born to be, be your Dead Sea
I realised that my most significant attribute, the Dead Sea, was what you were looking for, and it was who I am naturally


You told me you were good at running away
You confessed that you were an expert in escaping unpleasant situations


Domestic life, it never suited you like a suitcase
You implied that settling down wasn't your thing, and it was as uncomfortable as carrying a suitcase that doesn't fit you


You left with just the clothes on your back
When you left, you only took the essentials


You took the rest when you took the map
The map represented your future path, which meant that you took the things that mattered for that journey, leaving everything else behind


Yes, there are times we live for somebody else
There are moments when we live because of or for someone else, and not for ourselves, but it is okay


Your father died, and you decided to live it for yourself
When you lost your father, you decided that it was time to live for yourself and do what you want


You felt, you just felt it was time
You follow that gut feeling that it was time to make a change in life and live for yourself


And I'm glad, 'cause you with cats, that's just not right
I am happy you chose to live the life you want because you and cats couldn't be any different and it would just not work out


I've been down, I've been defeated
I have felt low and defeated before


You're the message I was heeding
You were the voice of reason and hope that I was listening to in those moments of feeling low


Would you stay, would you stay the night?
I would like you to stay with me for the night


The nicest words you ever said to me
The comparison to the Dead Sea is still one of the sweetest things you've ever said to me


I was born to be your Dead Sea
I finally accept that being your Dead Sea is what I am meant to be and that I will always be there to save you




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeremy Fraites, Wesley Schultz

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@joycenogueira3029

Eu estava sozinho em cima da plataforma em vão
Os porto-riquenhos estavam tocando sua salsa na chuva
Com portas abertas e fechaduras manuais
Em estacionamentos de fast food
Eu fui para o oeste eu era um homem em movimento
Nova York mentiu para mim, eu precisava da verdade
Oh, eu preciso de alguém, eu preciso de alguém que possa confiar
E eu não jogo, mas se jogasse, apostaria em nós

Como o mar morto
Você me disse que eu era como o mar morto
Você nunca vai afundar quando estiver comigo
Oh Senhor, como o mar morto
Woah, eu sou como o mar morto
As melhores palavras que você já me disse
Querida, você não vê
Eu nasci para ser, ser o seu mar morto

Você me disse que era boa em fugir
A vida doméstica nunca lhe serviu como uma mala
Você partiu apenas com as roupas em suas costas
Eles levaram o resto quando você tirou uma soneca
Sim, há tempos em que vivemos para alguém
Seu pai morreu
E você decidiu viver por si mesma, você sentiu
Você só sentiu que era hora
E eu estou contente, porque você com os gatos
Isso simplesmente não é correto

Como o mar morto
Você me disse que eu era como o mar morto
Você nunca vai afundar quando estiver comigo
Oh Senhor, como o mar morto
Woah, eu sou como o mar morto
As melhores palavras que você já me disse
Querida, você não vê
Eu nasci para ser, ser o seu mar morto

Eu estive para baixo, eu fui derrotado
Você é a mensagem que vou acatar
Você ficaria comigo
Você ficaria a noite
Oohh

Como o mar morto
Você me disse que eu era como o mar morto
Você nunca vai afundar quando estiver comigo
Oh Senhor, como o mar morto
Woah, eu sou como o mar morto
As melhores palavras que você já me disse
Querida, você não vê
Eu nasci para ser, ser o seu mar morto



@eden230

I stood alone, upon the platform in vain
The Puerto Ricans they were playing me salsa in the rain
With open doors and manual locks
In fast-food parking lots

I headed West, I was a man on the move
New York had lied to me, I needed the truth
Oh, I need somebody, I needed someone I could trust
I don't gamble, but if I did I would bet on us

Like the Dead Sea
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You'll never sink when you are with me
Oh Lord, like the Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
Finest words you ever said to me
Honey, can't you see?
I was born to be, be your Dead Sea

You told me you were good at running away
Domestic life, it never suited you like a suitcase
You left with just the clothes on your back
Took the rest when you took a nap

Yes, there are times we live for somebody else
Your father died and you decided to live
It for yourself, you felt, you just felt it was time
And I'm glad, 'cause you with cats, that's just not right

Like the Dead Sea
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You'll never sink when you are with me
Oh Lord, I'm your Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea (dead sea)
The nicest words you ever said to me (said to me)
Honey, can't you see?
I was born to be, be your Dead Sea

I've been down, I've been defeated
You're the message I was heeding
Would you stay
Would you stay the night? Ooh

Dead Sea
Told me I was like the Dead Sea
Never sink when you are with me
Oh Lord, I'm your Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea (dead sea)
The nicest words you ever said to me (said to me)
Honey, can't you see?
I was born to be your Dead Sea



@valentina3610

I stood alone, upon the platform in vain
The Puerto Ricans they were playing me salsa in the rain
With open doors and manual locks
In fast food parking lots

I headed West, I was a man on the move
New York had lied to me, I needed the truth
Oh, I need somebody, needed someone I could trust
I don't gamble, but if I did I would bet on us

Like the Dead Sea
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You'll never sink when you are with me
Oh, Lord, like the Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
[Video version:] The nicest words you ever said to me
[Album version:] The finest words you ever said to me
Honey can't you see,
I was born to be, be your Dead Sea

You told me you were good at running away
Domestic life, it never suited you like a suitcase
You left with just the clothes on your back
You took the rest when you took the map

Yes, there are times we live for somebody else
Your father died and you decided to live
It for yourself you felt, you just felt it was time
And I'm glad, cause you with cats, that's just not right

Like the Dead Sea
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You'll never sink when you are with me
Oh, Lord, I'm your Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
The nicest words you ever said to me
Honey can't you see
I was born to be, be your dead sea

I've been down, I've been defeated
You're the message, I will heed it.
Would you stay,
Would you stay the night?

Dead Sea,
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
I never sink when you are with me
Oh, Lord, I'm your Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
The nicest words you ever said to me
Honey can't you see
I was born to be, be your Dead Sea



@hetanshikhatri9893

I stood alone, upon the platform in vain
The Puerto Ricans they were playing me salsa in the rain
With open doors and manual locks
In fast food parking lots

I headed West, I was a man on the move
New York had lied to me, I needed the truth
Oh, I need somebody, needed someone I could trust
I don't gamble, but if I did I would bet on us

Like the Dead Sea
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You'll never sink when you are with me
Oh, Lord, like the Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
[Video version:] The nicest words you ever said to me
[Album version:] The finest words you ever said to me
Honey can't you see,
I was born to be, be your Dead Sea

You told me you were good at running away
Domestic life, it never suited you like a suitcase
You left with just the clothes on your back
You took the rest when you took the map

Yes, there are times we live for somebody else
Your father died and you decided to live
It for yourself you felt, you just felt it was time
And I'm glad, cause you with cats, that's just not right

Like the Dead Sea
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You'll never sink when you are with me
Oh, Lord, I'm your Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
The nicest words you ever said to me
Honey can't you see
I was born to be, be your dead sea

I've been down, I've been defeated
You're the message, I will heed it.
Would you stay,
Would you stay the night?

Dead Sea,
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
I never sink when you are with me
Oh, Lord, I'm your Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
The nicest words you ever said to me
Honey can't you see
I was born to be, be your Dead Sea



All comments from YouTube:

@pinkgaybitch

Their lyrics always tell a story, I love it.

@candacemoore9780

As most lyrics do. Or should. 😊

@margeriesmith5531

i love this song so much.my dad would play this song on the guitar sometimes in my dreams i can still see and hear him playing it.when i do it make me really happy that some how he is still with me :- )

@thetinkerer5763

Sorry to hear about your loss.

@christy12363

margerie smith

@tuts351

margerie smith your comment made me cry. I hope you are doing well.

@reganwilson6308

margerie smith that is sweet

@karenarvizu5337

Such a beautiful comment 😢💕

14 More Replies...

@janhutchins7617

This was my daughter’s wedding song..... beautiful beautiful wedding... the words tore me up to listen to at the wedding and now it tears me up even more after the divorce......

@optymalna8699

:( hope shes doing ok

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