NO WAY
D.E.A.D Lyrics

From the alleys to the valleys
D.E.A.D. is describing the journey from the shady alleys of urban areas to the peaceful, serene valleys.

See 'em ridin' just like sally
The artist is referring to people cruising along like 'Sally', a metaphor for riding carefree and enjoying life.

When you wake up in the middle and you just can't stay
Feeling stuck in life and unable to move forward, trapped in the mundane monotony of existence.

I've seen the movies and the groovies
The artist has experienced the movie and disco culture that was popular in the 70s and 80s.

And I'm searching for a ruby
The artist desires something valuable and precious, symbolized by the ruby, in life amidst what he has seen and experienced so far.

In the gutter with a promise
Despite being in a dejected and hopeless state, the singer still believes there is hope in his situation.

And I'm on my way
The singer is motivated and determined to move forward.

Send us all to high school
A sarcastic remark about the education system and its ability to prepare young people for life

Make us pray to statues
Another sarcastic remark, this time about religion and its tendency to encourage idol worship.

So we hang on corners lookin' bored
Young people are aimless because they lack direction and purpose in life.

All the rubbish that you cherish
The singer is critical of materialism and the value society places on possessions.

With your hedonistic pleasures
Hedonism refers to the pursuit of pleasure and self-indulgence, something the artist disapproves of.

And your latest status symbols
The singer believes people are overly concerned with material possessions as a means of displaying their social status.

Seen the majors chase the minors
Metaphorically references corporations and big businesses pursuing smaller businesses and individuals.

With the military blinders
The military often has a narrow focus and a blindness to the bigger picture.

Dangle carrots in the faces of the U.S.A.
The government uses incentives and other methods to get people to comply and follow along with their agendas.

I hate the local stiffness
The artist dislikes the rigidness and conformity of local communities.

And all the capital sickness
The artist also dislikes the corrupt, greedy nature of the federal government.

You know they're waiting on a war
The singer believes the government is actively seeking a reason to go to war, rather than pursuing peace.

Whisper in my ear dear (tell me something)
The singer is asking the listener to share something meaningful with him.

Why does suicide have such appeal (never nothin')
The artist is reflecting on the allure of suicide, even though there is nothing to be gained from it.

No way-goin' like sailors
The singer is rejecting the idea of going through life aimlessly, without direction or purpose.

And valentine failures
The singer is disillusioned with societal expectations of love and romance, and how they often fall short of reality.

Ducking rejection with walls of protection
People are constantly putting up emotional walls to shield themselves from rejection and hurt.

Degeneration cross the nation
The state of society is deteriorating across the entire country.

Lonely callers masturbation for a minute
The artist is acknowledging how people turn to instant gratification in times of loneliness and despair.

All the wheelers and the dealers
Refers to people in positions of power, who are often corrupt and self-serving.

And the zombies kill the feelings
People who are blindly following the prescribed path and conventions of society are killing their own natural sense of emotion and soul.

With a bottle and a vial
People numb their feelings of pain and discomfort with drugs and alcohol.

And I'm on my way
The artist is determined to avoid being like the people he describes and is forging his own path forward.

I seen my mother watch her dreams just smother
The singer has seen his mother give up on her own dreams and aspirations.

Don't want to sing the graveyard song
The artist does not want to be someone who has given up on his ambitions and is slowly decaying and dying away.

No way-heart felt attraction that never takes action
The artist is critical of people who have strong feelings and attraction to something, but never take the necessary steps to pursue it and make it a reality.

Just meetings and functions and social corruptions
The artist is expressing his frustration with social gatherings and how they often serve as a platform for people to further their own agendas, rather than genuinely connect with one another.

All your niches and your stitches
Another critique of society's obsession with superficiality and material possessions, and how it stifles creativity and individualism.

I'm not lyin' back and wishin'
The artist is not content to sit back and be passive in his life, but is actively seeking to make a change.

For a Cinderella savior
The idea of waiting for someone or something to come along and save you from your current situation is unrealistic and unlikely.

And I just can't stay
The singer is unwilling to remain stagnate and unfulfilled.

Call us fags and call us phonies
The artist is challenging people who label and judge others based on mannerisms or unimportant aspects of their identity.

But I make the ginamone
The artist is proud of his own achievements and is creating his own success rather than relying on others to hand it to him.

And you hate it cause I shake it
The artist is aware of the jealousy and resentment others might have towards his success and individuality.

I can't wait till Christmas
A sarcastic reference to the idea of waiting for something to arrive that will never come, a futile desire that serves as another example of society's tendency towards passivity.

Barking in the darkness
A metaphor for sound and fury, signifying a sense of chaos and confusion with no clear direction or purpose.

A broken hero at the bar
A reference to the archetype of the tragic hero, someone who has fallen from grace and is trapped in a negative cycle.

Fire to ashes and candy store flashes
The artist is describing the fleeting nature of desire, how one's dream or ambition can disappear in a flash just as quickly as it appeared.

Scars from the gashes and yesterday passes
The artist recognizes the pain and hurt that people have experienced, but understands that life moves on and yesterday is gone.

No way out
A powerful expression of feeling trapped and stuck in place with no clear direction or escape.

No way now
The artist is challenging the idea that one must wait for a sign or an event to occur in order to move forward. There is no time like the present to take action.