Obsolete
De/Vision Lyrics
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For what has once been you there's nothing left now
Got to bow down
You're torn apart
Seem to be here but yet you're fading away
Silent decay
You've got to confess
From what I have told you
From what I have said
All that you let me see
The worst for me to believe
You came to go down with
Nothing but defeat
Cause you're obsolete
Role model for
Another generation to take things on
Disposable ones
Running on repeat
An empty tape distorted background noise
A thrown-away toy
Bent nearly broke
That's what they did to you but not anymore
You are long gone and leave an emptiness
That's hard to express
The lyrics of De/Vision's song "Obsolete" depict the struggles and emotions of someone who feels that they are no longer needed and have become irrelevant to those around them. The opening lines illustrate the feeling of being torn apart and the gradual decay that is taking place within the individual. They are no longer the person they once were and are fading away into obscurity. The dragon heart is a symbol of the strong and powerful individual that once existed but has since been reduced to nothing.
The lyrics continue on to express the feeling of worthlessness and defeat. The person must confess that their life is a mess and that all they have left is the worst for others to believe. They came to go down with nothing but defeat because they are now considered obsolete. The second verse suggests that this individual was once a role model for a generation, someone who was looked up to and relied upon, but now they are disposable and replaceable. They are like an empty tape with distorted background noise, a thrown-away toy.
In the final lines, it is revealed that the individual has been broken and bent by others, but they have now moved on and are no longer present. The person has left an emptiness that is difficult to express, touching on the theme of how our presence and contributions can impact those around us.
Overall, the song is a powerful exploration of the emotions and struggles of individuals who feel they are no longer needed or valued. It speaks to the pain and disillusionment that can come from feeling like we are obsolete, reminding us to cherish our connections and contributions to those around us.
Line by Line Meaning
The dragon heart
Refers to a once-powerful and strong heart which now lies weak and feeble.
For what has once been you there's nothing left now
Everything that once defined you is now obsolete, with nothing significant to showcase your worth.
Got to bow down
The need to surrender and accept defeat in the face of such bitter circumstances.
You're torn apart
You're emotionally and physically broken from the various disappointments endured over time.
Seem to be here but yet you're fading away
You appear to be present, but then start to fade away ever so slowly, which leaves you barely visible.
Silent decay
The gradual withering or collapse of hope, dreams and aspirations with no sound, or outside source to blame.
You've got to confess
The need to admit your flaws and weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and limitations.
That your life is a mess
Your life is synonymous with chaos and disorder due to various things that have gone wrong along your path.
From what I have told you
Most likely referring to advice or suggestions from someone else.
From what I have said
Words spoken specifically by someone else for your good or benefit.
All that you let me see
Acknowledging the limited scope of what someone else might be able to notice about you or interpret of you.
The worst for me to believe
Having to come to terms with somebody else's realization of your flaws and the pain it brings.
You came to go down with
Refers to your imminent demise which is most likely unavoidable and impending.
Nothing but defeat
Refers to the conclusion that failure and loss are the sole options left for you.
Cause you're obsolete
Refers to the belief that you have outlived your usefulness or relevance.
Role model for
Refers to being responsible for setting an example to other people, specifically the upcoming generation.
Another generation to take things on
Those that will replace and succeed the previous generation.
Disposable ones
The upcoming generation may be seen as inter-changeable and dispensable by the previous generation.
Running on repeat
Repeating the same mistakes that were made in the past, thus not making progress.
An empty tape distorted background noise
Refers to the absence of any significant impact or legacy, and that whatever happened in the past as a background noise, irrelevant to the future.
A thrown-away toy
Refers to no longer being useful or played with which leads to being forgotten and cast off.
Bent nearly broke
To have come so close to the brink of total destruction, being nearly broken and irreparable.
That's what they did to you but not anymore
The observation made from past experiences where people have previously attempted or succeeded at hurting you, but that's no longer the case.
You are long gone and leave an emptiness
Refers to someone/something that has now vanished, leaving a deep void and a feeling of regret that it ever existed because its presence never mattered to anyone.
That's hard to express
Acknowledging that the feeling of loss is indescribable or hard to put into words.
Contributed by Mateo F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.