Dear Father
Defeater Lyrics

Buried him in the cold wet ground
His father has passed away and been buried in the cold, damp earth.

Familiar faces would have made him proud
People such as members of the military and the working class would have made the singer's father proud.

The military and the working man
These are two groups of people that would have earned the respect of the singer's father.

The history of the life he led
This refers to the life and experiences that the artist's father lived and had.

Can you feel that soil covering your coffin?
This is a rhetorical question posed towards the artist's deceased father, asking if he is aware of the earth covering his coffin.

Can you feel?
This is a repeated question, addressing the idea of whether or not the deceased father can feel the events that followed his passing.

(So, what are you gonna do?) Be the hero that your father was
The chorus asks the singer what they plan to do in order to fulfill their father's legacy and become a hero of the same ilk.

(So, what are you gonna do?) Be the man he made you to be
The chorus continues, asking the artist to live up to the expectations of their father's influence and become the person their father saw in them.

And you are your father's son
The artist is being reminded of their biological connection to the father, making it clear that they have a lot of weight to bear.

Dear father, dear father
The repeated use of this phrase is a form of communication with the deceased father, indicating that the artist is still trying to connect with their father on some level.

The war torn stories that he told you
The singer has heard stories from their father of the difficult war experiences that he went through.

You've got a hell of a lot to live up to
The artist is feeling the pressure of the expectations that have been placed on them from the heroic stories they have heard about their father.

An airborne man with a scar and a wound
This is a description of the singer's father and the physical injuries he sustained in service.

Never make a promise that you can't prove
This line gives advice to the singer, suggesting that they should be cautious about the promises they make and always follow through with them.

Where are you? Where are you?
The chorus becomes more aggressive and frustrated, questioning the whereabouts of not just the father, but the surrounding circumstances that led to his passing.

You coward, you coward
The chorus is accusatory, referring to the artist's father as a coward for leaving them behind.