Cold Dark Winter
Dayseeker Lyrics
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Who I am and where I've been
I don't recognize, my own face
I don't even remember my name
What doesn't kill you makes you weaker
When you're hooked up to synthetic machines
Just so you can breathe
Strapped in a vessel going nowhere
I try to reach you but no words escape
Can you blame me if I felt like giving it up? (Giving it up)
Tell me this cold, dark winter won't last forever
The cynic in me is screaming to pull the plug and leave
To desist must be better than purgatory
The cynic in me is telling you to leave
But I can't justify the end of life with no goodbye
It was just like a dream when I saw you in my bed
Felt your hand latching on but no grip could be given back
I see her in my room crying tears my endless sleep
I trade places and faces so you wouldn't face it alone
Because I am
Strapped in a vessel going nowhere
I try to reach you but no words escape
Can you blame me if I felt like giving it up? (Giving it up)
Tell me this cold, dark winter won't last forever
Tell me this cold, dark winter won't last forever
Leave me alive with the sharks unsure
When I'm burning I must be
I don't blame you if you'd leave
The cynic in me is screaming to pull the plug and run
I feel a hand reaching in my dream pulling me from purgatory
The lyrics of Dayseeker's "Cold, Dark Winter" convey a sense of confusion, isolation, and despair. The song begins with the singer trying to recollect his memories and identity, but failing to recognize his own face or even remember his name. He feels weak and dependent on machines to breathe, and wonders whether he is sinking or dreaming. The bridge contains the line "What doesn't kill you makes you weaker" which suggests that he is going through a tough time and is aware of his weakening. The verses after the chorus express his desire to give up and his feeling that he is trapped in a vessel going nowhere. He tries to reach out to someone, but no words come out, and he's afraid that this cold, dark winter will never end.
The cynic in him screams for him to pull the plug and leave, but he can't justify ending his life with no goodbye. The second verse describes a dream he had where someone was latching on to his hand, but he couldn't grip back. He sees someone crying in his room and wishes he could trade places and faces so they don't face it alone. The song ends with him asking someone not to leave him alone in this cold, dark winter and feeling a hand reaching out to pull him from purgatory.
The melancholic lyrics of this song convey the pain and confusion of the singer's situation. The use of metaphors such as "strapped in a vessel going nowhere" and "burning in purgatory" intensifies the sense of isolation and despair. The song is a powerful metaphor for mental illness, addiction, or other struggles people can face in life. The instrumentation of the song is minimal, with a focus on the stripped-down guitar and delicate piano melody. The vocalist's soulful and emotional singing conveys the pain and confusion of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I take a breath and try to recollect
I pause and try to remember who I am and where I have been
Who I am and where I've been
My identity and past experiences are not clear to me
I don't recognize, my own face
I am unfamiliar with my own appearance
I don't even remember my name
I cannot recall my own name
What doesn't kill you makes you weaker
Surviving difficult situations can still have negative effects on you
When you're hooked up to synthetic machines
Being dependent on artificial life support
Just so you can breathe
Just to be able to sustain life
Am I sinking? Or just dreaming?
Uncertainty about reality and whether it is getting worse or not
Strapped in a vessel going nowhere
Feeling stuck and in a hopeless situation
I try to reach you but no words escape
Trying to communicate, but unable to express oneself
Can you blame me if I felt like giving it up? (Giving it up)
Understanding that giving up seems like a reasonable choice
Tell me this cold, dark winter won't last forever
Asking for hope that the current difficult situation will not be forever
The cynic in me is screaming to pull the plug and leave
Feeling pessimistic and wanting to end things
To desist must be better than purgatory
Believing that stopping is better than being in an intermediate state
But I can't justify the end of life with no goodbye
Knowing that ending life without any closure is not justifiable
It was just like a dream when I saw you in my bed
A surreal experience of seeing someone in a location where they should not be
Felt your hand latching on but no grip could be given back
Feeling a connection, but being unable to reciprocate
I see her in my room crying tears my endless sleep
Visualizing someone in distress during a state of sleep
I trade places and faces so you wouldn't face it alone
Wishing to take on someone else's burden so they do not have to face it alone
Because I am
An undetermined statement, unclear in its meaning
Leave me alive with the sharks unsure
Asking to be left in a dangerous and uncertain situation
When I'm burning I must be
In cases where one feels intense emotions or pain, it might indicate being alive
I don't blame you if you'd leave
Acknowledging someone's choice to leave the situation
The cynic in me is screaming to pull the plug and run
Feeling pessimistic and wanting to end things quicker
I feel a hand reaching in my dream pulling me from purgatory
Dreaming of being saved from an intermediate and unpleasant state
Writer(s): Gino Sgambelluri, Mike Karle, Rory Rodriguez, Shawn Yates
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.