Olivia Hyde- Vocals, Piano
Nikki Kontinen- Bas… Read Full Bio ↴Bad Pollyanna are:
Olivia Hyde- Vocals, Piano
Nikki Kontinen- Bass, Programming
Stephen Kilpatrick- Guitar
Valerian Adore- Drums
As their oxymoronic name suggests, Bad Pollyanna enjoy combining beauty and darkness. Fronted by the eccentric and theatrical Olivia Hyde the band draw influences from Anime/ Manga and gothic science fiction as well as cutting edge alternative rock and electronica. Through the mediums of music, film, art and performance, Bad Pollyanna explore and indeed celebrate the duality of love, sex and the human condition.
The songs and accompanying videos of debut album "Monstrous Child" tell the story of an innocent young woman who falls victim to a crazed scientist's desperate attempts to reincarnate his lost love and, against her will, is transformed into a beautiful but deadly monster. As she looks at herself and her old life through new eyes she can see how she had been conditioned by the world around her to be afraid and subservient. With rage and lust coursing through her powerful new body but her memories intact, she faces a brutal battle between holding onto her humanity and her desire to avenge a lifetime of powerlessness.
With Olivia bringing the character to life both onstage and in their visuals as well as on the record itself, Bad Pollyanna haven't just created an album but a whole world in which their fans can immerse themselves.
The Living Dead
Bad Pollyanna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dead stare as if cold, dead, hypnotized
They're the living dead and they're everywhere
So broken & hollow
So go ahead & say a prayer
Cos you know
The living dead
Are walking among us
Breathless & bloodless
I'm running scared
Lost in their heads
They don't even know that they're dead
Undone from a world that's rot away
So numb as they watch their own decay
Wanting release, some kind of peace
From a whole lotta nothing
They don't wanna heal, just wanna feel
Something
()
The living dead
Are walking among us
Breathless & bloodless
I'm running scared
Living my lifeless
Lost in dead
Don't forget
You're gonna be numb
Once you have been taken
So better check
You could be one of them
And not even know that you're dead
In my ear they're whispering
Come with us and end the pain
Given all you got to give
Easier to die than live
()
The living dead
Are walking among us
Breathless & bloodless
I'm running scared
Living my lifeless
Lost in dead
Don't forget
You're gonna be numb
Once you have been taken
I'd better check
I could be one of them
And not even know that I'm dead
The Living Dead by Bad Pollyanna is a powerful yet eerie song that explores the complexities of human emotions and the concept of lifelessness. The lyrics make a clear reference to people who are physically alive but emotionally or spiritually dead. The opening lines describe these individuals as having loveless eyes that stare aimlessly as if hypnotized. The repetition of the word ‘dead’ emphasizes the emptiness of their existence, suggesting that they are devoid of purpose and emotion, and that only their body is alive.
The chorus emphasizes the fact that these people are ubiquitous- they are ‘walking among us’ and could be anyone in our midst. The use of the term ‘breathless and bloodless’ speaks to the sense of flatness and lack of vitality that these people exude. The second verse delves deeper, detailing the reasons why people might succumb to this state of existence- being numbed by the world around them or feeling a sense of decay that is both internal and external. Even in the face of this decay, these people are bereft of the desire to heal or fix themselves- they merely want to feel something, anything at all.
The final verse takes on a haunting, almost ominous tone, as the singer refers to the living dead whispering in their ears- inviting them to ‘end the pain’. The suggestion here is that death or a loss of consciousness would provide the release and peace that life has not. The lyrics come full circle at the end, with a call to action for everyone to beware- we could all be ‘one of them’ and not even know it.
In summary, The Living Dead by Bad Pollyanna is a song that lingers in the mind long after it is over - it speaks to our universal fear of being emotionally and spiritually empty even as we remain physically alive.
Line by Line Meaning
They stare with their cold dead loveless eyes
The people being described are staring blankly ahead, devoid of any emotion or love - as though they are not really alive.
Dead stare as if cold, dead, hypnotized
Their stare is so lifeless and fixed that it seems as though they are completely hypnotized and unresponsive.
They're the living dead and they're everywhere
The people being described are like the walking dead - they're all around us but they're not really alive.
So broken & hollow
These 'living dead' people are completely empty and lacking in any sort of substance or feeling.
So go ahead & say a prayer
If you encounter these people, you might as well try praying for them because there's nothing else you can do to help them.
Cos you know
This is the reason why the previous line was suggested - because the existence of these people is so hopeless and bleak.
The living dead
A term to describe people who appear to be alive, but are actually dead or devoid of spiritual life.
Are walking among us
These 'living dead' people are a part of our society and can be found all around us.
Breathless & bloodless
These people are figuratively without breath or blood - they're completely drained of any energy or vitality.
I'm running scared
The singer is frightened by the realization of these 'living dead' people, and what their existence might mean for her own life.
Lost in their heads
These people are so absorbed in their own emptiness that they are not really living in the present moment.
They don't even know that they're dead
These people are so numb and detached from themselves that they are not even aware that they are not really living.
Undone from a world that's rot away
The world has become so degraded and corrupt that it has caused these people to become undone and disconnected from themselves.
So numb as they watch their own decay
These people are completely numb to the fact that their existence is slowly degrading and decaying.
Wanting release, some kind of peace
These 'living dead' people are looking for some sort of relief or inner peace from the emptiness of their lives.
From a whole lotta nothing
These people are trying to escape the feeling of being completely empty and lacking any sort of substance or meaning.
They don't wanna heal, just wanna feel
These people are not necessarily looking for a cure to their emptiness, but rather some feeling or sensation - anything that will help them feel 'alive' again.
Something
Anything that will bring some light or life to their existence.
You're gonna be numb
The singer is warning the listener that they too could become numb to life and end up like the 'living dead' people she is describing.
Once you have been taken
If you become like one of these 'living dead' people, there is no turning back - you will be 'taken' forever.
So better check
The singer is suggesting that the listener better take stock of their own life and make sure they are not becoming one of these 'living dead' people.
I could be one of them
The singer realizes that she too could be on the path to becoming one of these 'living dead' people.
And not even know that I'm dead
The frightening possibility that the singer might not even realize that she has become one of these 'living dead' people before it's too late.
In my ear they're whispering
The singer hears these 'living dead' people whispering to her, perhaps warning her or tempting her to join them.
Come with us and end the pain
The 'living dead' people are offering the singer a way out of her pain and emptiness - by joining them in their numb existence.
Given all you got to give
If the singer wants to escape her pain and emptiness, she must give everything she has to these 'living dead' people.
Easier to die than live
The 'living dead' existence might seem easier and less painful than struggling to truly live.
Contributed by Mateo L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Hindson
I love everything this great band has done so far, seen them numerous times, total brilliant and friendly people. This song is simply kickass and should be on the walking dead t.v series ❤
ashyalice malicequinn
Love this song!! Xx
Logan Brown
I love it DO MORE