Dead Legend signed with a management company out of NYC and virtually disappeared for a few years. Behind the scenes they honed our skills as songwriters and players. They got to miss school and go record in New York City at studios where AC/DC, The Rolling Stones and The Black Crowes recorded. They were produced by Grammy award winning producers, but soon fell into a rut of trying to please everybody. Management said they were waiting for a "hit" song. They built a home studio and wrote and scrapped dozens of songs. But the management never heard the "hit."
"What is a hit anyway?", they began to wonder. A song is only a hit after the general population likes it. But that song had to have been given a chance. So how can a single person decide what is or isn't a "hit?" They can't. They began to resent the major label mentality.
In 2004 with a new found do-it-yourself attitude and no one to answer to, Dead Legend began writing songs that challenged them. Songs they were proud of on every level. The songs grew heavier and the aesthetics darker. Upon graduating high school they packed our bags, bought a van and moved to Los Angeles.
After living in LA for a few months Dead Legend recorded and released "Predawn Hours" a 6 song EP, produced by James Book (The Flys, Mozart). The first track "Into Flames" received airplay on 13 college stations throughout the country and for over 15 weeks remained on the Top 20 Countdown on local college station 107.7 WACC. The song "False Alarm" also appears in "The Parallel" a feature film due to be in theaters later this year.
Shortly after the release of "Predawn Hours" the pressure grew to find a second guitar player. The songs were becoming more intricate and could not be replicated live with just one guitar. Dead Legend took a big chance and moved back to Connecticut to work with an old friend. They worked tirelessly with him, crafting their live show and new songs but in the end it came down to college for him. Dead Legend carried on as a three piece for several months performing stripped down versions of their songs live and demoing new songs in TJ's home studio. In June of 2006 Sam Janik entered the equation, sharing the same passion and insanity to want to get in a van and tour non stop.
Finally with all the pieces in place, Dead Legend jumped at the oppurtunity to follow the 2006 Van's Warped Tour. The overwhelming response from the fans at Warped Tour gave them the confidence and urgency to book several mini tours thoughout the North East as well as their first national tour this coming Spring.
--(Bio by Ryan Michael)
False Alarm
Dead Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got it, what you wanted
"I just need some time to think"
You got it, what you wanted
What did you expect to see?
A changed man? A different me?
Just another false alarm
But now we're fine
Now I'm lying again
Just another heart attack
Been resuscitated and now I'm back
And things are fine
Now I'm dying again
I can't stop lying to myself
I believe it
Cuz I think I need it
And I can't stop hating myself
For believing in you
Denying the truth
What did I expect to see?
A better way for you and me?
Now I'm lying, now I'm dying
Dying again
The lyrics in Dead Legend's song False Alarm express the frustration and confusion that can arise in a tumultuous and on-again-off-again relationship. The first two lines, "we just need some time apart" and "I just need some time to think" suggest a temporary separation, perhaps initiated by the singer to gain some clarity and distance. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that this time apart did not lead to the growth or change that was hoped for. The lines "What did you expect to see? A changed man? A different me?" imply that the singer's partner had certain expectations for the relationship to improve during the time apart, but these expectations were not met.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Just another false alarm," conveying the idea that this is not the first time the singer and their partner have gone through this cycle of needing time apart, attempting to improve the relationship, and ultimately returning to their old ways. The lines "Now I'm lying again, Just another heart attack" suggest that despite the promises made during the time apart, things have not truly improved and the singer is once again feeling hurt and frustrated. The final lines "And things are fine, Now I'm dying again" portray the confusing mix of emotions that can arise in relationships that are not stable or healthy.
Overall, the lyrics of False Alarm reflect the complexities and challenges of navigating romantic relationships, particularly those that are characterized by frequent breakups and reconciliations. The song captures the frustration, hope, and disappointment that can arise when trying to make a relationship work, and ultimately recognizes that sometimes the best course of action is to acknowledge when it is time to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
we just need some time apart
You got what you wanted, but I still need some space to clear my head.
I just need some time to think
I need time away to assess our situation and decide what I want.
What did you expect to see?
Did you anticipate a new version of myself or a changed personality?
A changed man? A different me?
Did you anticipate a new version of myself or a changed personality?
Just another false alarm
You raised your hopes again, but I let you down like the times before.
Yet again got pushed too far
Once more, I've gone beyond my limits, and I'm struggling to cope.
But now we're fine
We've reconciled and made peace with each other, or so it seems.
Now I'm lying again
I'm feigning my feelings, and I'm not being truthful to you or myself.
Just another heart attack
Another bout of emotional turmoil that I must endure and survive.
Been resuscitated and now I'm back
After hitting rock bottom, I've managed to keep going and emerge from it.
And things are fine
Our relationship is seemingly going well, but it's only a facade.
Now I'm dying again
I'm going through the same emotional breakdowns, feeling helpless and alone.
I can't stop lying to myself
I keep deceiving myself into believing that everything's okay.
I believe it
I'm convinced that our relationship is functional, but it's just a lie.
Cuz I think I need it
I'm dependent on the idea of being with you, even it means being unhappy.
And I can't stop hating myself
I loathe myself for believing in a relationship that's unfulfilling and false.
For believing in you
For trusting you and thinking that things could work between us.
Denying the truth
Refusing to accept that we're not good for each other and it's time to let go.
What did I expect to see?
What was my hope for our relationship? What did I think could be different?
A better way for you and me?
Did I believe that there was a chance for us to have a more fulfilling relationship?
Now I'm lying, now I'm dying
I'm stuck in a cycle of false hope and pain, and I can't break free from it.
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.