Dying To Live
▼Poets of the Fall▼ Lyrics

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Tell me this, would you miss it, trying on another face again to see if it's you
N' wondering where you've been and where you're gonna find yourself before the night is through

I know the way you go 'cause I've been the same for too long
Like I'm fearful that my choices are all wrong
I know the way you go 'cause I've lived your life of make believe
Dying to live

Tell me this, is it lonely in the shadow of a masquerade for life you hide behind
What's the deal with your reasons to run away and let your feelings leave you undefined

I know the way you go

Behind me now the winding road they sing of
I've come to stand before a silent wall
Finally a chance to find a question
To point out the right answer after all this time

So rid us of the plight, the plight of self affliction
Generations choice the drug of self deception

I know the way you go

Overall Meaning

In "Dying to Live", Poets of the Fall explores the idea of living a life of make-believe, of trying on different personas to see if any of them fit. The opening line poses a question about the human tendency to reinvent oneself, to seek validation from others by changing who we are. The second line hints at the underlying anxiety that accompanies this process of self-discovery, the fear that we may never find ourselves or that we are making wrong choices.

The chorus of the song speaks to the singer's sense of empathy for the subject of the song. He recognizes that he himself is guilty of adopting various identities, of pretending to be someone he is not or of hiding behind a mask. He understands the pain of feeling lost or undefined, of running away from one's own feelings. The refrain of "I know the way you go" conveys compassion, solidarity, and understanding.

The verses of the song delve deeper into the theme of self-discovery. The second verse poses another question about the emotional costs of living behind a facade, of always having to hide one's true emotions from the world. The third verse offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that the process of self-discovery may lead to a moment of clarity, a chance to ask the right questions and find the right answers after a long period of confusion.

Overall, "Dying to Live" offers a poignant commentary on the complexities of human identity and the quest for self-knowledge. It acknowledges the challenges of navigating a complicated world while staying true to oneself, the conflict between the desire to fit in and the need for authenticity, and the importance of empathy and compassion in helping others to find their way.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell me this, would you miss it, trying on another face again to see if it's you
Are you tired of pretending to be someone you're not and wondering if the real you will ever show up?

N' wondering where you've been and where you're gonna find yourself before the night is through
Do you ever question who you are and where you're headed in life?

I know the way you go 'cause I've been the same for too long
I understand the path you're on because I've been stuck in the same place for much too long.

Like I'm fearful that my choices are all wrong
I'm scared that every choice I make is leading me down the wrong path.

I know the way you go 'cause I've lived your life of make believe
I understand your journey because I've also lived a life full of pretending.

Dying to live
We're both struggling to find our true selves and live authentically.

Tell me this, is it lonely in the shadow of a masquerade for life you hide behind
Are you lonely living a life full of pretending and hiding behind a mask?

What's the deal with your reasons to run away and let your feelings leave you undefined
Why do you keep running away from your true feelings and letting them go unacknowledged?

Behind me now the winding road they sing of
I've left behind the long and winding road that people often talk about.

I've come to stand before a silent wall
I've reached a point where I'm faced with an obstacle that is preventing me from moving forward.

Finally a chance to find a question
At last, I have a chance to ask the right questions.

To point out the right answer after all this time
I hope to finally discover the right answer after searching for so long.

So rid us of the plight, the plight of self affliction
Let's get rid of the pain that comes from pretending to be something we're not.

Generations choice the drug of self deception
The tendency to deceive ourselves has been passed down through generations.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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