Wasteland
10 Years Lyrics
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Crouched over, you were not there, living in fear
But signs were not really that scarce, obvious tears
But I will not hide you through this, I want you to help them
Please see the bleeding heart perched on my shirt
Die, withdraw, hide in cold sweat, quivering lips
Ignore remorse, naming a kid, living wasteland
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I?
Could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I?
Could I?
Crowned, hopeless, the article read, "Living Wasteland"
This time you've tried all that you can, turning you red
But I will not hide you through this
I want you to help
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I?
Could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I?
Could I?
Heave the silver, hollow sliver
Piercing through another victim
Turn and tremble, be judgmental
Ignorant to all the symbols
Blind the face with beauty paste
Eventually, you'll one day know
Change my attempt, good intentions
Limbs tied
Skin tight
Self inflicted his perdition
Should I?
Could I?
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I?
Could I?
Should I?
Could I?
The lyrics of 10 Years's song "Wasteland" are powerful and thought-provoking. The first verse seems to address someone who is living in fear and in the midst of some sort of emotional pain. The singer acknowledges the signs of this pain but refuses to simply hide it away. Instead, they want to help the person find a way to deal with it. The line "Die, withdraw, hide in cold sweat, quivering lips" conjures vivid imagery of the physical symptoms of anxiety or other forms of distress. The singer is saying that while they recognize the severity of the situation, they will not let it consume them or the person they are trying to help.
The chorus asks a series of questions: Should I? Could I? Here we are with your obsession. The singer seems to be questioning their own ability to help in this situation but also seems to be determined not to give up trying. The second verse begins with the word "crowned" which adds a sense of shame or failure. The "hopeless article" mentioned seems to be a piece of writing about the situation, perhaps even a news story. All of this intensifies the sense of desperation and frustration in the lyrics.
The final lines are particularly impactful: "Blind the face with beauty paste / Eventually, you'll one day know." This refers to the way in which people often try to conceal their pain or struggles behind a façade of happiness or beauty. The singer seems to be saying that eventually, this will come to an end and the truth will have to be faced. The repetition of "Should I? Could I?" serves to emphasize the weight of the decision the singer is facing: Whether or not to continue to try and help this person.
Line by Line Meaning
Change my attempt, good intentions
I want to change my ways and do good, but I need help and guidance in doing so.
Crouched over, you were not there, living in fear
You were absent, hiding and afraid of the world.
But signs were not really that scarce, obvious tears
There were clear indications that something was wrong and you were struggling, but it was ignored.
But I will not hide you through this, I want you to help them
I won't protect you from the consequences of your actions, instead I want you to start helping others.
Please see the bleeding heart perched on my shirt
Take notice of my compassion and empathy, which I wear openly.
Die, withdraw, hide in cold sweat, quivering lips
You are experiencing fear and anxiety so strongly that you feel on the brink of death.
Ignore remorse, naming a kid, living wasteland
You are ignoring your guilt and responsibility, instead focusing on trivial matters while your life feels empty and meaningless.
This time you've tried all that you can, turning you red
You have put forth a lot of effort, but it has caused you physical and emotional distress.
Crowned, hopeless, the article read, 'Living Wasteland'
The media or society has labeled you as someone who is completely hopeless and has no potential.
Heave the silver, hollow sliver
Piercing through another victim
Turn and tremble, be judgmental
Ignorant to all the symbols
Blind the face with beauty paste
Eventually, you'll one day know
You are hurting others and being callous, seeing only surface-level qualities and ignoring deeper meaning. Eventually, you'll understand the consequences of your actions.
Limbs tied
Skin tight
Self inflicted his perdition
You are trapped by your own choices and actions, leading to a self-inflicted punishment.
Should I?
Could I?
I am questioning my ability to make a difference and help someone in need.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JESSE HASEK, RYAN JOHNSON, BRIAN VODINH, MATT WANTLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mandatory210
"Change my attempt good intentions
Crouched over, you were not there
Living in fear, but signs were not really that scarce
Obvious tears, but I will not hide you through this
I want you to help them, please see
The bleeding heart perched on my shirt
Die, withdraw, hide in cold sweat
Quivering lips, ignore remorse
Naming a kid, living wasteland
This time you've tried
All that you can turning you red
Change my attempt good intentions
Should I, could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I, could I?
Crowned hopeless, the article read living wasteland
This time you've tried
All that you can turning you red, but I will not hide you through this
I want you to help
Change my attempt good intentions
Should I, could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I, could I?
Heave the silver hollow sliver
Piercing through another victim
Turn and tremble be judgmental
Ignorant to all the symbols
Blind the face with beauty paste
Eventually you'll one day know
Change my attempt good intentions
Limbs tied, skin tight
Self inflicted his perdition
Should I, could I?
Change my attempt good intentions
Should I, could I?"
@jettgem
I instantly choked up when he yelled "I want you to help." with that new imaging, ngl
Like, I've loved this song ever since I was a kid - and I never really knew why that was, I just knew I understood it on some deeply intimate level. That it was important to me.
For those of you who have seen the original video: I felt like the fish was me.
A lifetime later, the reasons finally make sense. I didn't know how bad off I was back then, how monstrously I was treated by not only family, but society - it's to such an extent that even if I was to explain it, most people likely wouldn't comprehend the severity of what I'm saying. It's even hard for me to, most of the time. Not because I'm unaware of what I've been through, but because I feel as though I'm not allowed to acknowledge it or what it's done to me.
And that has a lot to do with people around me and the expectations that they have about each other. It's assumed that if I look and act okay, then I have nothing to complain about. That, because it's "hard all around", that should somehow nullify that I was hurt and that I am still hurting and that healing is hard when you've been given no space to heal.
"I will not hide you through this
I want you to help them, please see
The bleeding heart perched on my shirt"
To me, it's about the inability to help one another. Be that the person suffering and unable to help themselves or the people watching and unwilling to see that someone needs help. "Should I? Could I?" Yes, you can and yes you should.
The only ways in which I have ever been able to move forward from my traumas is with a hand in my hand. It takes more than yourself to get better. It's a rare thing for someone to truly save themself by themselves and, honestly, I think you lose something very innocent in yourself when you have to - something you can't replace. It's tragic and it shouldn't have to happen. We and the world are a wasteland because we let each other waste away - no well, no water, no life. Suffocating on this barren earth because no one will check if they have a drink to spare.
I suppose this song has always reminded me of how often it was that I felt alone. Truly, terribly alone in this world. In my worst days, I would look out my window and wish someone would see me, would save me, or at least help me save myself - but they never came. Not back then. I went through a lot more than I ever had to because no one wanted to look at the kid crying for help until it was almost too late. Every day, I feel a little more wasted away, even now.
These days, I take a great deal of solace in the people I've chosen to see, in the people I've tried to help, along the way - and watching them make it, where I didn't, is enough sometimes to keep going until the next day. But, I still remember this. This feeling, this loneliness. This song reminds me that I still wish that more people would help - because I've cared for so many crying children, and that there are still so many more tells me that there are still not enough people choosing to help.
@100deep1
Change my attempt, good intentions
[Verse 1]
Crouched over, you were not there, living in fear
But signs were not really that scarce, obvious tears
But I will not hide you through this, I want you to help them
Please see the bleeding heart perched on my shirt
Die, withdraw, hide in cold sweat, quivering lips
Ignore remorse, naming a kid, living wasteland
This time you've tried all that you can, turning you red
[Chorus]
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I? Could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I? Could I?
[Verse 2]
Crowned, hopeless, the article read, "living wasteland"
This time you've tried all that you can, turning you red
But I will not hide you through this, I want you to help
[Chorus]
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I? Could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I? Could I?
[Bridge]
Heave the silver, hollow sliver
Piercing through another victim
Turn and tremble, be judgmental
Ignorant to all the symbols
Blind the face with beauty paste
Eventually, you'll one day know
[Chorus]
Change my attempt, good intentions
Limbs tied, skin tight
Self inflicted his perdition
Should I? Could I?
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I? Could I?
@ohno_da_idiot3230
2024 anyone?
@logenderringer497
Hell yeah!! 🤟
@savannahcarrizales2816
yessssssss!!!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼
@shay5129
Yes!!
@iamdarknessonxbox574
Of course!
@PapaSenju
Timeless babyyyyy
@Daemonscharm
Back in 2005 my best friend bought me this CD and I listened to it every day for months. He killed him self in 2012 and this is the 1st time since then I’ve listened to this song. I’m overwhelmed with emotions right now.
@Happy.Uplifted.Motivated
Feel ya
@Happy.Uplifted.Motivated
😢
@Happy.Uplifted.Motivated
Hope the World change and recover from getting to be a Wasteland