Consisting of
Ryan Shelkett (… Read Full Bio ↴Indie band from Baltimore, Maryland
Consisting of
Ryan Shelkett (vocals, guitar)
Charles Cole (rhodes, drums)
Alan Randall (bass)
Buck Holk (drums)
A dark and poignant merging of indie rock, hardcore and blues, Dead Red Sea strikes with a hushed aggression. Alienation and intensity mark the candid lyrics of frontman Ryan Shelkett (ex-Cross My Heart) who plays the melancholy everyman on Birds - his voice familiar and connecting - uncovering the charred aspects of his naked psyche. Through musical memoirs about insecurity, mistrust and self-loathing, he reveals the person trapped within his scrambled sense of self. The softly treading rhythm section provides the perfect accompaniment for Shelkett's earnest pop poetry. Weaving between sobering states of depression and energizing encounters with clarity, Birds is an exquisitely intimate affair flagged with songs that are soulful, drenched in feeling and charming.
It's So Hard To Be Alive
Dead Red Sea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The opening lyrics “Standing on the edge. The only way is down” suggests that the singer is standing at a point in their life where they have reached a low and it seems like things cannot get any worse. The doctor advises against any self-harm, but the singer struggles with believing that. The mention of a broken heart and a car that wouldn’t start indicates that there may have been some recent hardships that have led to a depressive state of mind.
In an almost conversational tone, the singer mentions that they have been committed to a treatment facility, and they are uncertain when they will be discharged. The doctor reassures them that a few more tests need to be conducted, but the singer struggles with believing that as well. The chorus “And it’s so, so hard. So, so hard. Just to be alive.” emphasizes the struggles of living with a mental illness and the daily challenges that come with it. The line in the chorus “But someone's on your bed” suggests that the singer is not alone in their struggles and that someone or something is always present, making it harder to cope.
Overall the song highlights the struggles of living with mental illness, the difficulties in seeking help, and the challenges of moving forward. It touches upon the dark and difficult moments that one may experience while living with depression, anxiety, or any mental health condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on the edge.
Feeling like being at the brink of emotional collapse.
the only way is down.
There seems to be no hope or possibility of improvement.
at least right now it can't get much worse.
The present moment might be as bad as it can possibly be.
and the doctor says.
A professional opinion is expressed to address a mental or physical issue.
no reason to harm yourself.
There seems to be no apparent justification or justification for causing self-harm.
and i wish i believed that.
Doubt is expressed regarding the doctor's opinion about causing self-harm.
and today the car wouldn't start.
An additional setback is experienced through an inability to use the car.
got a broken heart.
Suffering the emotional pain of a failed or painful relationship.
i just went to sleep.
Trying to escape the stress and pain of reality through sleeping.
now i've been committed.
Being forcibly committed to a psychiatric institution or mental health facility.
and i don't know when i'll get out of here.
Feeling uncertain and hopeless about the duration of internment in the facility.
just a few more test.
The diagnosis and treatment require further evaluation or medical tests.
and i wish i believed that.
Doubt is expressed regarding the doctor's claim about the need for additional medical tests.
sometimes you just want to sleep all day.
Desiring an escape from reality through sleep and avoidance of one's problems.
but someone's on your bed.
Unable to find solace and rest even when seeking refuge in sleep.
and it's so. so hard.
The weight of emotional and physical struggles feels utterly overwhelming.
just to be alive.
Merely existing and surviving feels like an unbearable burden.
be alive.
Wanting to find a reason to live and a way to find joy or purpose in life.
be alive.
The imperative to find a way to live despite the challenges and difficulties.
alive one more day.
The struggle to persevere and stay alive for another day, despite the challenges and difficulties.
Contributed by Nolan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.