World Falls Apart
D.O.A Lyrics
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The lyrics to D.O.A's song "World Falls Apart" paint a picture of an increasingly heartless and cruel world, where suffering is pervasive and empathy seems to be in short supply. The song describes the struggles of various individuals who have fallen on hard times, from an old man confined to a wheelchair to a single mother with starving children to an abused girl who has run away. These people are all victims of a system that fails to protect them or offer them any meaningful help or support.
The song makes it clear that the problems it describes are not limited to any one place or community; they are endemic across the country. The lyrics mention Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, all of which are depicted as places where compassion is in short supply and people are treated as nothing more than pawns in a cruel and senseless game. The song suggests that there is no easy solution to these problems, as poverty and injustice are deeply ingrained in our society and cannot be fixed by throwing a "bandaid" at the problem.
Line by Line Meaning
world falls apart, falls apart
The world is collapsing and breaking down.
there's a mean streak in the air
There is an atmosphere of cruelty and malice.
it's a heartlessness that's being taught
People are being taught to be heartless and unempathetic.
you read and hear about it and the safety net that's being dropped
The news reports on the lack of support for those in need, and the safety net that once existed is disappearing.
there's an old man rotting in a wheelchair
There is an elderly man suffering and neglected.
there's a single mom with two starving kids
There is a mother struggling to feed her children.
there's an abused girl who ran away and they have all hit the skids
A young girl who ran away from abuse and is now struggling to survive along with the others.
our world falls apart in vancouver
The city of Vancouver is also facing this collapse.
ain't no compassion, just pawns in the game
There is no empathy or humanity, only people being used as tools and pawns.
you can sleep in a dumpster and eat from a garbage can
Homelessness and poverty have reached such levels that people are resorting to these desperate measures for survival.
they're used to be jobs now there's a food bank
The lack of jobs has led to an increase in the need for food banks.
man i never met anybody who wanted nothin'
Nobody wants to be in a hopeless situation, but circumstances have forced them into it.
i never met anybody who wanted to be a victim
Nobody wants to be a victim, but they are being victimized by their circumstances and the lack of support.
i never met anybody who wanted to be kicked
Nobody wants to be mistreated or abused.
but i sure know a lot of scapegoats
Many people are being blamed for their own misfortune and suffering, when in reality they are simply victims of a broken system.
our world falls apart in toronto
The city of Toronto is also facing this collapse.
they call it justice
The system claims to be just and fair, but it is anything but.
it's a phony war that nobody wins
This is a futile, meaningless battle.
you can't throw a bandaid at poverty's kin
A bandaid solution will not fix the deep-rooted issues of poverty and inequality.
there's a bureaucart who's trying to save his ass
Officials are more concerned with protecting their own careers than helping those who need it.
there's a politician who wants to look tough
Politicians are more concerned with appearing strong and powerful than actually making a positive impact.
there's a tv station that helps to spin the lies
Media outlets are perpetuating falsehoods and misinformation.
and dying people who got it too rough
People are dying due to the lack of support and resources.
our world falls apart in montreal
Even the city of Montreal is not immune to this collapse.
in montreal we all fall apart on the eastside
The east side of Montreal is facing the same issues as the other cities mentioned.
our world falls apart, falls apart
The theme of the song is reinforced - the world is breaking down and collapsing.
Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.