Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Dead End
Sam Roberts Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh what's wrong with me
Said oh what's wrong with me
I know what I don't want to be
A dead end on the family tree
And I just lost my virginity
To a girl who won't remember me at all
Took her out on a shopping spree
Happiness never happened for free
Could it be that I imagined things
I'm just sad instead of heartbroken
She came home but she's leaving again
She's coming back but she won't say when

And I don't sing songs anymore
I don't feel young anymore
And it's hard to conceal
That these tears that I cry are for real
Any more

My pop said I should be like him
My mom says I can live with them
I had to ask my little brother to lend
Me change for the bus 'til I see him again
I'm getting drunk every day of the week
My ship sunk but it had no leak
A fortune teller on Bishop street
She read my hand and the future is bleak
I'm tired of sitting upon the fence
I've got no self confidence
Why don't I have a circle of friends
I'm so square they don't even pretend

And I don't sing songs anymore
I don't feel young anymore
And it's hard to conceal
That these tears that I cry are for real
Any more

Don't give in
You can never let them win
But I get cold
I get cold
Every night, night, night
Without a prayer in my heart, heart, heart
Oh what's wrong with me
Said oh Lord what's wrong with me
I know what I don't want to be
A dead end on the family tree
And the train for my salvation
Is departing from the station
She don't feel like conversation
So I'm talking to myself
I got nobody else
I got my bottle of booze and my stale cigarettes
Down from the shelf

And I don't sing songs anymore
I don't feel young anymore
And it's hard to conceal
That these tears that I cry are for real
Any more

Overall Meaning

In the song Dead End by Sam Roberts, the artist explores the inner turmoil of a young man who seems to be lost in life. The lyrics depict a sense of hopelessness and confusion as the singer laments about his lack of direction in life. The song begins with the artist questioning himself, trying to figure out what is wrong with him. The chorus of the song is a melancholic realization that the youthful care-free days are long gone, and that he is now struggling to cope with the challenges of adulthood.


The second verse of the song describes the singer's social isolation, lack of self-confidence and dissatisfaction with his life. He is unable to connect with others and is constantly questioning his place in the world. The bridge of the song offers a glimmer of hope, telling listeners to never give up and never let anyone win. However, the final verse once again takes on a somber tone, as the character realizes that his salvation is leaving him behind, and he is left alone with his bottle of booze and cigarettes.


Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the struggles of young adulthood, specifically for those who feel like they are not moving forward and are not making any progress.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh what's wrong with me
The singer expresses self-doubt and confusion about his current state.


Said oh what's wrong with me
The singer repeats his statement from the first line for emphasis.


I know what I don't want to be
The singer is clear on what he does not want to become.


A dead end on the family tree
The artist does not want to be the one who breaks the family lineage.


And I just lost my virginity
The artist recently had sex for the first time.


To a girl who won't remember me at all
The singer's partner was not emotionally invested in the relationship.


Took her out on a shopping spree
The singer spent money on his partner in the hopes of making her happy.


Happiness never happened for free
The artist implies that happiness comes at a cost.


Could it be that I imagined things
The artist questions whether his perception of reality is flawed.


I'm just sad instead of heartbroken
The artist is not as upset as he could be about his failed relationship.


She came home but she's leaving again
The singer's partner returned for a brief period before leaving again.


She's coming back but she won't say when
The artist's partner is noncommittal about future plans.


And I don't sing songs anymore
The singer no longer finds enjoyment in one of his hobbies.


I don't feel young anymore
The singer laments that he no longer feels youthful.


And it's hard to conceal
The singer is finding it difficult to keep his emotions hidden.


That these tears that I cry are for real
The artist's tears are genuine and a sign of his emotional turmoil.


Any more
The artist implies that this feeling is ongoing and has lasted for a while.


My pop said I should be like him
The singer's father expects him to follow in his footsteps.


My mom says I can live with them
The singer's mother offers him a place to stay.


I had to ask my little brother to lend
The artist had to borrow money from his younger sibling.


Me change for the bus 'til I see him again
The artist is asking for small change to cover his transportation costs.


I'm getting drunk every day of the week
The artist is turning to alcohol to cope with his problems.


My ship sunk but it had no leak
The singer's life is falling apart for no clear reason.


A fortune teller on Bishop street
The artist seeks guidance from a psychic on the street.


She read my hand and the future is bleak
The psychic's prediction is not a positive one.


I'm tired of sitting upon the fence
The singer is frustrated with his indecisiveness.


I've got no self confidence
The singer lacks faith in his own abilities and decisions.


Why don't I have a circle of friends
The artist questions why he does not have a supportive group of friends.


I'm so square they don't even pretend
The artist feels like an outcast among his peers.


Don't give in
The singer urges himself not to succumb to his problems.


You can never let them win
The singer emphasizes the importance of persevering despite obstacles.


But I get cold
The artist feels emotionally vulnerable and exposed.


I get cold
The artist repeats the previous line for emphasis.


Every night, night, night
The artist feels this same way every night.


Without a prayer in my heart, heart, heart
The singer lacks comfort and solace from a higher power.


Oh what's wrong with me
The artist is still questioning his problems and negative feelings.


Said oh Lord what's wrong with me
The singer addresses a higher power for answers.


And the train for my salvation
The singer sees salvation as a way out of his problems.


Is departing from the station
The opportunity for salvation may be fleeting.


She don't feel like conversation
The artist's partner is not willing to talk about their relationship.


So I'm talking to myself
The artist has no one else to turn to for support.


I got nobody else
The singer is truly alone with his problems.


I got my bottle of booze and my stale cigarettes
The singer turns to unhealthy habits to cope with his emotions.


Down from the shelf
The artist retrieves his coping mechanisms from a storage space.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Sam Lewis Roberts

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

Comments from YouTube:

JOHN BRAD MACDONALD

I adore sam and his band. Beautiful music.

patrick grondines

love this song

Loiflaax

Certified Banger!

w1sers

good stuff

JOHN BRAD MACDONALD

There's a potency to this poetry. No Joke. Buddhist offering.

SolonSaturn Gaming

She don't feel like conversation
So I'm talking to myself
I got nobody else
I got my bottle of booze and my stale cigarettes
Down from the shelf.

i know that feeling all to well...

Half

.. she read my hand but the future was bleak ..

zigsinclair

SHOUT OUT TO HUGO hahahha night before junos in edmonton, set up a show for the dudes at banff springs! fuckin sam, never forget, said what am i doing here doing a show for you suits! was a CIBC convention..

zigsinclair

set up for these fellas in banff springs night before junos in edmonton, was awesome hahaha fuckin CIBC benefit or some shit, sam wasnt into it hugo the roadie was tho shout out hah

zigsinclair

and bought the album and got a ton of people into it, good album right through and this is my fav tune

More Comments

More Versions