The band started as a hardcore punk band but later moved towards a slower and blues-tinged heavy metal sound. To date, the band has released ten studio albums, four EPs, one compilation, and one live album. Their first three studio albums―Eye for an Eye (1984), Animosity (1985) and Blind (1991)―attracted the attention of Columbia Records, who signed the band in 1993. Corrosion of Conformity found success with the release of their 1994 fourth studio album, Deliverance, which peaked at number 155 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the hits "Albatross" and "Clean My Wounds". Their 1996 follow-up Wiseblood was also successful, and at the time, it was Corrosion of Conformity's highest-charting album in the United States, peaking at number 104 on the Billboard 200. Their latest album, No Cross No Crown, was released on January 12, 2018 on Nuclear Blast Records, and became the band's first album to enter the Top 100 on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number 67.
Dance Of The Dead
Corrosion of Conformity Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heard too much, know too much, don't know if I can take it
If the system had one neck, you know I'd gladly break it
They've got us where they want us - stuck in this sick romance
They need no chain, it's in our brain
And we don't stand a chance
If we keep doing this deadly dance
End this sick romance
It's all in my head
Know the deal, the way we feel, those of us who care
Constant pain, the endless rain becomes too much to bear
Feel the need to concede, pretend its all ok
But the horror, today, tomorrow, will never ever go away
If you give in to the deadly dance
You've got to take that chance
The dance of the dead
Its all in your head
Ain't got the time or peace of mind to deal with the likes of you
Your narrow views, your two-bit moves just tell me that you're through
You're dead
You're dead
You're dead
Don't give in, live the sin, let them see the sight
There's no answer in the end, fall or fight
Keep in mind, that you'll find them standing in the way
Run them down to the ground, make the guilty pay
And there'll be no more deadly dance
End their idiot prance
The dance of the dead
It's all in their heads
The dance of the dead
The dance of the dead
Dead
Corrosion of Conformity’s song “Dance of the Dead” is a commentary against systemic oppression and the power dynamics that are created through it. The lyrics convey the idea that there are individuals who are aware of the inherent tragedy and injustice of the status quo, but are unable to detach themselves from it. The song suggests that society functions like a dance, with many individuals going through the motions of their daily lives, accepting the injustices that come with the system. The lyrics further suggest that if everyone were to rise up against these oppressive forces, the system would crumble, but too many people are too entrenched in the routines of their lives to step outside of it.
The lyrics of “Dance of the Dead” contain several references to death and dying. These allusions to mortality serve to underscore the severity of the situation and the urgency of the message. They suggest that these issues are not abstract, but are life and death matters that require our immediate attention. The lines, “Feel the need to concede, pretend it's all okay / But the horror, today, tomorrow, will never ever go away” suggest that the suppression of dissent or critical thinking might lead to a dystopic future, where there seems no way to escape the horrors of the present.
Line by Line Meaning
You're dead
The system has killed us and we have lost our freedom.
Heard too much, know too much, don't know if I can take it
Having information about the system's workings has become too painful and overwhelming.
If the system had one neck, you know I'd gladly break it
The frustration towards the system is so high that the urge to destroy it is intense.
They've got us where they want us - stuck in this sick romance
The system has kept us in this harmful relationship where we can't free ourselves from it.
They need no chain, it's in our brain
The system has such a strong influence on our thinking that it doesn't require physical restraints to control us.
And we don't stand a chance
We are helpless in front of the system and its power.
If we keep doing this deadly dance
If we follow the system blindly and keep repeating the same mistakes, we will continue to suffer.
End this sick romance
It's time to break free from the control of the system and end this harmful relationship.
The dance of the dead
Our behavior is monotonous and robotic, leading to the death of our individuality and freedom.
It's all in my head
The realization that the control of the system is just a mental construct and can be broken.
Know the deal, the way we feel, those of us who care
People who have realized the system's harmful effect and care about the consequences need to take action.
Constant pain, the endless rain becomes too much to bear
Life has become unbearable due to the constant suffering caused by the system.
Feel the need to concede, pretend its all ok
People are forced to accept their condition and pretend as if everything is normal.
But the horror, today, tomorrow, will never ever go away
The horrors of the system will always haunt us, even if we try to forget it for a brief moment.
If you give in to the deadly dance
If we continue to follow the system, we risk losing our individuality and freedom.
You've got to take that chance
Breaking free from the system requires taking a chance and standing up for oneself.
Ain't got the time or peace of mind to deal with the likes of you
We don't have the patience and the mental energy to deal with people who blindly support the system.
Your narrow views, your two-bit moves just tell me that you're through
People who support the system with their shallow and limited mindset are doomed to fail.
Don't give in, live the sin, let them see the sight
We shouldn't give in to the system and should continue to act as individuals and showcase our rebellious nature.
There's no answer in the end, fall or fight
The system doesn't have an answer for our grievances, and we are left with two options - fall or fight.
Keep in mind, that you'll find them standing in the way
Those who support the system will try to block our path to freedom.
Run them down to the ground, make the guilty pay
We need to fight back against the system's supporters and make them accountable for their actions.
And there'll be no more deadly dance
If we succeed in breaking free from the system, there'll be no more robotic and monotonous behavior.
End their idiot prance
The foolish and harmful behavior of the system's supporters needs to be stopped.
The dance of the dead
Our current behavior is a dance towards death and needs to be changed.
It's all in their heads
The supporters of the system are victims of their own mental constructs, which need to be challenged and broken.
The dance of the dead
Repeating the same harmful behavior, without any change or growth, is a dance towards death.
The dance of the dead
Our current behavior is harmful and unproductive and needs to be changed immediately.
Dead
By continuing to follow the system's path blindly, we risk losing our individuality and freedom, leading us towards death.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KARL AGELL, PEPPER KEENAN, PHIL SWISHER, WOODY WEATHERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dannyezuehlke3665
Lyrics
You're dead
Heard too much, know too much, don't know if I can take it
If the system had one neck, you know I'd gladly break it
They've got us where they want us - stuck in this sick romance
They need no chain, it's in our brain
And we don't stand a chance
If we keep doing this deadly dance
End this sick romance
The dance of the dead
It's all in my head
Know the deal, the way we feel, those of us who care
Constant pain, the endless rain becomes too much to bear
Feel the need to concede, pretend its all ok
But the horror, today, tomorrow, will never ever go away
If you give in to the deadly dance
You've got to take that chance
The dance of the dead
Its all in your head
Ain't got the time or peace of mind to deal with the likes of you
Your narrow views, your two-bit moves just tell me that you're through
You're dead
You're dead
You're dead
Don't give in, live the sin, let them see the sight
There's no answer in the end, fall or fight
Keep in mind, that you'll find them standing in the way
Run them down to the ground, make the guilty pay
And there'll be no more deadly dance
End their idiot prance
The dance of the dead
It's all in their heads
The dance of the dead
The dance of the dead
Dead
@jdavisdaman
Criminally underrated album! One of my favorite albums ever by anybody on Earth.
@danlorenzo
Check out Karl singing for PATRIARCHS IN BLACK
@alicechambers5052
Criminally underrated band.
@TheJasonwhite777
Same here
@SS71Simon
Play It LOUD
@sdthor27
Rest in peace, Reed Mullin. You will be missed.
@kevinw8688
Reed was a groovy fucking drummer while having energy and style. A damn shame we lost him.
@tobyjuggify
K-DUB so sad,he was my most influential rock drummer
@bulletsforteeth5029
Glenn Fricker mentions the awesomeness of Reed's work here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz2tTJIqrAo @ 13:12 mark.
@richardtaylor2405
I hate we're losing sooooo many and have lost some of the best,..iconic,..influential,..and MOST DEFINITELY IRREPLACEABLE MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS!!!!