Dead to Me is a punk band from San Francisco. The band formed in 2003, shor… Read Full Bio ↴Dead to Me is a punk band from San Francisco. The band formed in 2003, shortly after One Man Army broke up and founding members Jack Dalrymple and Brandon Pollack sought out other SF punks to shore up the lineup of a new band. Jack shares vocal duties with bassist Chicken, who ayed in Western Addiction. Chicken's cousin Ian Anderson is the drummer. Original Guitarist Kyle from Semi-Evolved Simeans left after breaking his ankle on tour, and Nathan joined shortly after. Jack left in 2008 after his wife had their first kid. Dead to Me was a three piece with Chicken, Nathan and Ian, however Nathan left to pursue a solo career. Sam and Ken joined, making Dead to Me a 4 man band.

In 2006, the band released its debut album, cuban ballerina on Fat Wreck Chords. Many of Dead To Me's songs deal with addiction and recovery (Chicken had recently emerged from rehab), while others address strife around the world (ie. war in Iraq and expanding prison systems). It was produced by Alex Newport, who previously produced records for At the drive-in and the locust.

Don't Lie
Dead to Me Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baghdad kids on CNN
Have never heard the term phantom limbs
A second before US tanks were deployed
And land mines don't lie

It's a shame that their city got invaded
But modern first world conveniences
Don't grow on trees

SUVs and the morbidly obese don't lie

We love to complain, we wouldn't have it any other way
I'll see you there
There's nothing left to do, there's no place left for you
I'll see you there

Folded flags and epitaphs
Fair and balanced telecasts
To remind us that the job's not done
But 21 guns don't lie

Each and every shot makes me want to scream
Over in that mess there's a kid like me
That misses his friends and only wants it all to end
100,000 dead don't lie

We love to complain, we wouldn't have it any other way
I'll see you there

There's nothing left to do, there's no place left for you
I'll see you there

Overall Meaning

The chorus in Dead to Me's song Don't Lie highlights the contradictions present in modern societies. We love to complain about trivial things, yet we take for granted the privileges we enjoy. The lyrics convey a sense of guilt felt by the singer, sandwiched between news stories about the war in Iraq, and domestic concerns about weight and consumption. The first verse talks about how the kids in Baghdad have been subject to a terrible war they cannot begin to comprehend. They have never heard of "phantom limbs," a term used to describe the feeling of pain or discomfort in a body part that is no longer there, a common experience amongst amputees. The line "a second before US tanks were deployed/ And land mines don't lie" essentially suggests that we have invaded their land, and caused much damage and harm to the innocent.

The second verse takes a more domestic perspective, reflecting on the physical and moral decay of American society. The invasion in Iraq may have resulted in thousands of deaths, and damaged the very fabric of Iraqi society, but people in America are fixated on their own daily needs and desires- SUV's, fast food, etc. Thus, while the world is burning outside, we choose to remain willfully blind, obsessed with ourselves.

In the end, the chorus draws its strength from its ambiguous nature. It seems to suggest that we are not doing enough to stem the tide of destruction in the world and that we are blind to the consequences of our own actions. Dead to Me "peer into the ugly mess of our modern society, and they don't like what they see." The song highlights the paradoxes of modern living-how our own desires are pitted against the greater good of society, and how we can be blind to the sometimes devastating consequences of our actions.

Line by Line Meaning

Baghdad kids on CNN
Children from Baghdad being broadcasted on CNN news

Have never heard the term phantom limbs
They are ignorant of the physical trauma and psychological distress caused by losing limbs during war

A second before US tanks were deployed
Just before US military tanks got sent to their city

And land mines don't lie
Dangerous land mines remain long after the tanks have departed, causing harm to innocent civilians

It's a shame that their city got invaded
Unfortunate that their city was taken over

But modern first world conveniences
Luxuries only found in developed countries

Don't grow on trees
Are not easily accessible or affordable to everyone

SUVs and the morbidly obese don't lie
Displays the excessive consumption and wastefulness of modern society

Folded flags and epitaphs
Symbols of military sacrifice and death

Fair and balanced telecasts
Media coverage that shows both sides of a story

To remind us that the job's not done
To raise awareness that the war continues and there is still work to be done

But 21 guns don't lie
The sound of 21 gun salutes at military funerals are a testament to the number of lives lost in the conflict

Each and every shot makes me want to scream
The continuous sounds of gunshots are agonizing and unbearable

Over in that mess there's a kid like me
Among the chaos and destruction, there is a child who is just like the singer

That misses his friends and only wants it all to end
Yearning for peace and longing to be reunited with loved ones

100,000 dead don't lie
The high number of casualties is an undeniable and tragic reality

We love to complain, we wouldn't have it any other way
As humans, we tend to find something to complain about, even when there isn't much to complain about

I'll see you there
A promise to meet again after the hardships and struggles have ended

There's nothing left to do, there's no place left for you
After experiencing the trauma of war, there is no going back to the way things used to be

I'll see you there
Reiterating the desire to reunite with loved ones in a peaceful place

Contributed by Ella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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