Converge is a four-piece American band, formed in February of 1990 in Salem… Read Full Bio ↴Converge is a four-piece American band, formed in February of 1990 in Salem, Massachusetts, United States. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and extreme metal, this pioneer outfit helped define a lot of the rudiments of the fast-burgeoning metalcore and mathcore genres formed by vocalist Jacob Bannon and guitarist Kurt Ballou in Salem, Massachusetts in 1990. During the recording of their seminal fourth album Jane Doe, the group became a four-piece with the departure of guitarist Aaron Dalbec and the addition of bassist Nate Newton and drummer Ben Koller. This lineup has remained intact since. They have released nine studio albums, three live albums, and numerous EPs. The band's sound is rooted in both hardcore punk and extreme metal, and they are considered pioneers of metalcore as well as its subgenre mathcore.

Converge have enjoyed a relatively high level of recognition. According to AllMusic, they are "regarded as one of the most original and innovative bands to emerge from the punk underground." Their popularity rose with the release of Jane Doe, which was ranked as the best album of 2001 by Terrorizer and later as the 61st Best Metal Album of All Time by Rolling Stone. Subsequently, Converge moved from Equal Vision Records to the considerably larger label Epitaph Records and their records gradually became more elaborate and expensive to produce. Special releases have traditionally been handled by Deathwish Inc., established by Bannon in 1999. The band's ninth studio album, The Dusk in Us, was released in November 2017 through Deathwish and Epitaph.

Dead Beat
Converge Lyrics

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Pick your poison as dead beats do
Leave a wake in the hearts that hurt you
Pick your poison as dead beats do
Blood pulsing through your wounds
A thousand warnings are ringing true
Burning their homes writing in stone
The name of demons inside of you

You left your mark on this world
You left your scar on this world
You left your scar

You left your mark
Wound them

Overall Meaning

The song "Dead Beat" by Converge appears to be a commentary on the toxic and hurtful behaviour of people commonly referred to as "dead beats." The lyrics contain lines about leaving a destructive trail of hurt and pain wherever these dead beats go. The phrase "pick your poison" implies that the destructive behaviour is deliberate and intentional, and the following lines suggest that the dead beats are fully aware of the harm they are causing. The reference to "demons inside of you" also indicates that the root cause of this behaviour might be related to deeper personal issues.

The phrase "Blood pulsing through your wounds" is particularly striking and suggests that the dead beats are both the cause of and victims of their own destructive behaviour. They leave behind "a wake in the hearts that hurt you," indicating that the cycle of hurt and pain is self-reinforcing, and that those who engage in destructive behaviour are unlikely to break the pattern without intervention or self-reflection.

Ultimately, the lyrics seem to be a call to action, urging the listener to confront their own potential for causing harm and to choose a better path.

Line by Line Meaning

Pick your poison as dead beats do
Choose your vice like those who are too lazy or apathetic to strive for something better

Leave a wake in the hearts that hurt you
Cause emotional damage to those who have already suffered

Pick your poison as dead beats do
Again, choose your downfall in a manner that reflects a lack of ambition

Blood pulsing through your wounds
Feel the physical and emotional pain of your self-inflicted injuries

A thousand warnings are ringing true
Numerous signs and signals are pointing towards your imminent demise

Burning their homes writing in stone
Destroying the lives and futures of others in a way that is permanent and irrevocable

The name of demons inside of you
The dark forces that drive you to cause destruction and pain are those of your own inner demons

You left your mark on this world
You have made an impact on the world, but it is not one that should be celebrated

You left your scar on this world
Your actions have left a permanent and negative mark on the world

You left your scar
Your negative influence has caused damage and lasting pain

You left your mark
The impact of your influence, though negative, is significant and enduring

Wound them
Inflict hurt and pain upon others, leaving a lasting impact

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin Koller, Jacob Bannon, Kurt Parker Ballou, Nathaniel Harlan Newton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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