“Our album is a concept piece that revolves around a carnival sideshow,” Kate DeGraide says, “but the people in it aren’t freaks of nature. They’re normal people like you and me, but what’s being exploited is their defense mechanisms against pain and loneliness.”
“I’m really excited about the way the album has turned out, because I think we’ve gone to a place that’s musically different, yet at the same time we find the music resonating with all types of people,” Neil DeGraide says. “As an artist, there’s not much that makes me happier than that.”
Alibi
Dirt Poor Robins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's filling with smoke and all the songs of tote
Leave it alone
Have a glance, there's no chance
That it might be saved
Surrounded by flies, no chance for enterprise
Dig it a grave
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
My name is clear, no need to hide
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
Here come the lawyers, they're getting ready to make their case
They plan to litigate, carry on a long debate, and hold back the pace
But soon their heads bow as they wonder how this could be and who is to blame
Why did we hesitate, let it fall so out of date? Ain't it a shame?
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
My name is clear, no need to hide
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
Remember long ago when tubes would glow
Our minds would blow, and rock would roll
It fed your soul
They claimed that video had killed you then
That's what they said, but now we know
You were scared to death, instead
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
My name is clear, no need to hide
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
The lyrics of "Alibi" by Dirt Poor Robins convey a message about the demise of music and how it has changed over the years. The first stanza encourages people to step away from the radio because the songs that were once valued have been replaced by those with no substance, hence have become "all the songs of tote." The singer then suggests that there is no chance for the radio to be saved, and it's already surrounded by flies, which symbolizes that it's already dead. The second stanza talks about the consequences of letting the music die, as the lawyers now have to intervene to lay the blame on someone. However, soon enough, even the lawyers cannot find anyone to point the blame, nor anyone to save the dying state of music.
It seems that the singer is providing an alibi to be on the right side of history when he says, "Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died." He suggests that he can testify that all these facts are verified and that they are all victims of the crime of the music dying. The lyrics of the song are deep and thought-provoking, and they are a commentary on the shift in society's artistic culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Stand back, step away from the radio
Move away from radio, which is filled with smoke and playing depressing tunes of failure
It's filling with smoke and all the songs of tote
The radio is suffocating with a tired playlist.
Leave it alone
Don't bother with it anymore.
Have a glance, there's no chance
Take a look but realize it can't be saved.
That it might be saved
The radio is beyond repair.
Surrounded by flies, no chance for enterprise
The radio is surrounded by failure and cannot be saved.
Dig it a grave
It's time to let the radio go.
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
I have proof that I wasn't responsible when music died.
My name is clear, no need to hide
I'm not guilty and have no reason to be scared.
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
I'm a witness to the truth.
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
The loss of our music has hurt us all.
Here come the lawyers, they're getting ready to make their case
The lawyers are preparing to fight it out.
They plan to litigate, carry on a long debate, and hold back the pace
They have plans for a long legal process to resolve the issue.
But soon their heads bow as they wonder how this could be and who is to blame
But ultimately they will be shocked at the situation and the lack of responsibility.
Why did we hesitate, let it fall so out of date? Ain't it a shame?
We let the situation fester without seeking solutions, and that is regrettable.
Remember long ago when tubes would glow
Remember the nostalgic days when music was played via cathode tubes.
Our minds would blow, and rock would roll
We were blown away by the music and the power it had.
It fed your soul
Music was our comfort food.
They claimed that video had killed you then
They said that music would die because of technological advancement.
That's what they said, but now we know
But their predictions were wrong.
You were scared to death, instead
You were afraid of the power music had in your life, instead of killing it.
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
We lost the magic of the power of music, and it has hurt us all.
Contributed by Mason J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
some random person
Yo, have some lyrics!
Stand back, step away from the radio
It's filling with smoke and all the songs of tote
Leave it alone
Have a glance, there's no chance
That it might be saved
Surrounded by flies, no chance for enterprise
Dig it a grave
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
My name is clear, no need to hide
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
Here come the lawyers, they're getting ready to make their case
They plan to litigate, carry on a long debate, and hold back the pace
But soon their heads bow as they wonder how this could be and who is to blame
Why did we hesitate, let it fall so out of date? Ain't it a shame?
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
My name is clear, no need to hide
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
Remember long ago when tubes would glow
Our minds would blow, and rock would roll
It fed your soul
They claimed that video had killed you then
That's what they said, but now we know
You were scared to death, instead
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
My name is clear, no need to hide
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
some random person
Yo, have some lyrics!
Stand back, step away from the radio
It's filling with smoke and all the songs of tote
Leave it alone
Have a glance, there's no chance
That it might be saved
Surrounded by flies, no chance for enterprise
Dig it a grave
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
My name is clear, no need to hide
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
Here come the lawyers, they're getting ready to make their case
They plan to litigate, carry on a long debate, and hold back the pace
But soon their heads bow as they wonder how this could be and who is to blame
Why did we hesitate, let it fall so out of date? Ain't it a shame?
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
My name is clear, no need to hide
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
Remember long ago when tubes would glow
Our minds would blow, and rock would roll
It fed your soul
They claimed that video had killed you then
That's what they said, but now we know
You were scared to death, instead
Now I've got an alibi for you were with me on the night the music died
My name is clear, no need to hide
For I've come to testify that all these facts are verified
The music died, we're all victims of this crime
radicallizard
just by the opening riff alone i know it sounds amazing...
Vitex
You rock! Killer riffs and Kate sounds like Karen Carpenter on acid!
Cwovictor
First time I saw the tracklist for the album, I thought it was gonna be an eldritch whodunit. Ya can't blame me, with I Shot A Man followed by Alibi.
Jean Legault
Best song of this age
anathema
cok iyi
Scratch Moded
I wonder if your listeners are old enough to catch references to American Pie and Video Killed the radio star.
Helyus HD
I am not lol
iroshiyan
Absolutely. I was caught by surprise, but pleasantly so.
Isaiah Kerstetter
For those two, age doesn't matter. Those are classic American fair, so says the second to last millennial.