All for Nothing
D.R.I. Lyrics
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Just stay in the dark and wait for an end
You don't really care, it's jut give and take
Keeping the distance, keeping it fake
Waiting for something that doesn't quite jell
Just cursing existence and hating your hell
Blinded by anger you don't really know
Your making your stand for nothing at all
Delighted with problems, a chance for a fall
Causing a scene to distribute the pain
It's all for one, such a nice little game
Your time flies by with nothing gained
Just talk of change and who's to blame
It's the same old story we know so well
With a premade ending you don't want to tell
Still waiting for something you haven't found yet
Just hide behind vices and a bunch of regrets
Blinded by anger that won't go away
Treading on water as you sink day by day
The lyrics to D.R.I.'s "All For Nothing" describe a person who is consumed by anger, hate, and self-pity, but ultimately accomplishes nothing. They blindly lash out, causing pain to those around them, while simultaneously being unhappy with their own life. They are stuck in a cycle of waiting for something to change, but without taking any action to make that change happen. The song suggests that this is a pointless existence, one that leaves the person with nothing to show for their time on this earth.
The lyrics are especially poignant when set against the backdrop of the punk rock movement. Punk music often criticizes society's norms and encourages rebellion against the status quo. "All For Nothing" takes this rebellion to a deeper level by calling into question the very idea of rebellion itself. Is it enough to simply be angry and cause chaos, or is there a more productive way to bring about change?
The repetitive nature of the lyrics, with phrases repeated throughout the song, highlights the futility of the person's actions. The song also uses sarcasm to drive home its message, with lines like "It's all for one, such a nice little game" conveying the emptiness of the person's existence. Overall, "All For Nothing" is a powerful critique of those who are consumed by hate and anger, but refuse to take action to bring about positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
Eyes full of hate, quick to condemn
You are filled with anger and judgement towards everything.
Just stay in the dark and wait for an end
You are just waiting for everything to end, not taking any action to change things.
You don't really care, it's jut give and take
You are only concerned about what you can gain or lose from a situation, not truly caring about anyone or anything else.
Keeping the distance, keeping it fake
You maintain distance in relationships and pretend to be someone you're not.
Waiting for something that doesn't quite jell
You are waiting for something to happen or change, but deep down you know it might not happen as expected.
Just cursing existence and hating your hell
You resent your existence and are unhappy with your life situation.
Blinded by anger you don't really know
Your anger blinds you to rational thought, preventing you from seeing the truth.
It's play by play as you put on a show
You are just acting out and putting on a show with your anger and aggression.
Your making your stand for nothing at all
Your actions and words have no real purpose or meaning, and you are just causing drama for no reason.
Delighted with problems, a chance for a fall
You take pleasure in problems and a chance to fail or fall, rather than trying to succeed.
Causing a scene to distribute the pain
You create drama and chaos to inflict pain on others, rather than dealing with your own issues.
It's all for one, such a nice little game
You see life as a game where it's every person for themselves, and you enjoy playing it in a selfish way.
Your time flies by with nothing gained
You waste your time and don't accomplish anything worthwhile.
Just talk of change and who's to blame
You talk about making changes and blaming others, but never take any real action.
It's the same old story we know so well
Your behavior and attitude are predictable and unchanging.
With a premade ending you don't want to tell
You know exactly how your actions will end up, but you don't want to admit it to yourself.
Still waiting for something you haven't found yet
You continue to wait for something to come along and change your life, even though you haven't found it yet.
Just hide behind vices and a bunch of regrets
You use unhealthy coping mechanisms like drugs or alcohol, and dwell on regrets instead of making positive changes.
Blinded by anger that won't go away
Your anger is so intense that it continues to consume you and won't go away.
Treading on water as you sink day by day
You are struggling to keep afloat and feel like you are sinking deeper into despair every day.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: OLIVER SMITH, MARTIN BADDER, DAVID POWER, BEN JOHNSON, TOM SCOLLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind