DEAD OR ALIVE
Eryn Allen Kane Lyrics


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I don't need your money
No I don't need your privileged things
All i need is justice
For all the things my family seen
Never been accepted
No never had no shiny things
Always been exempted
Cause you don't know me by my name

Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive

You are not the past, no, no
They want you to hold on to yeah
You are only present yeah
And far from the truth

My name is not defeated
M, y name is not contained
My name is not uneducated
My name is not refrained
My name is not objectified
My name is not defined
My name is all that remains
My name is all mine

Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive

Oh, no, no, no, no, no
Baby we've got to come together
Love each other
No, no, no, no, no

Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
(You got to hold on)
Dead or alive, survive
(Said you got to hold on)
Dead or alive, survive

Alright y'all so now we gotta break. So what I want you to do is grab your neighbor and hold on an tell 'em "I love ya". Say "I love ya!"And I want you to repeat after me. Y'all ready?
Here we go, 1, 2, 3 Go!

If you don't know what to do, sing it
(If you don't know what to do)
Do what you know's good for you
(Do what you know's good for you)
If you don't know what to do
(If you don't know what to do)
Do what you know's good for you
(Do what you know's good for you)
Now you know just what to do
(Now you know just what to do)
Show them that you ain't no fool
(Show them that you ain't no fool)

Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive
Dead or alive, survive, survive, survive

We've gotta come together
We've gotta love each other
Oh no, no, no, no, no





TRACK INFO

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Eryn Allen Kane's song Dead or Alive center on the theme of identity and resilience in the face of adversity. The opening lines express a rejection of material wealth and a desire for justice, which is motivated by the experiences of those closest to the singer. The mention of "privileged things" and "shiny things" suggests that social status and money are not the ultimate goal for the singer, and that the more important goal is recognition and acceptance. The song's chorus adds a sense of urgency to the message, with the repetition of "dead or alive, survive" emphasizing the struggle to overcome the challenges that threaten to undermine one's personal identity.


The second verse of the song shifts the focus to the singer's own name, and the various ways that it has been misrepresented or misunderstood. The specific phrases used to describe the name - "not defeated," "not uneducated," "not refrained," and "not defined" - suggest that the singer has specifically encountered stereotypes or negative assumptions about their identity. However, the final line of the verse - "my name is all that remains" - asserts a sense of power and self-confidence in claiming ownership over one's personal identity.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't need your money
I don't value your wealth or status


No I don't need your privileged things
I don't need the advantages that come with your wealth or status


All i need is justice
All I want is fairness and equality


For all the things my family seen
For all the injustices my family has experienced


Never been accepted
I have never been fully embraced or included


No never had no shiny things
I have never had luxurious or expensive possessions


Always been exempted
I have always been left out or excluded


Cause you don't know me by my name
Because you judge me based on my appearance or status, rather than getting to know me as an individual


Dead or alive, survive
I will continue to persevere and survive, no matter the circumstances


You are not the past, no, no
Your past experiences and actions do not define your worth or potential


They want you to hold on to yeah
They want you to cling to the limitations and prejudices of the past


You are only present yeah
Your current actions and choices are what matter most


And far from the truth
And the truth is much more complex and nuanced


My name is not defeated
I am not defeated by the challenges and obstacles in my life


M, y name is not contained
My identity cannot be limited or confined by others


My name is not uneducated
My intelligence and abilities cannot be judged solely on my education or academic credentials


My name is not refrained
I am not held back or limited by others' expectations or stereotypes


My name is not objectified
I am not reduced to a mere object or stereotype


My name is not defined
My identity cannot be solely defined by others or external factors


My name is all that remains
My name is a powerful symbol of my identity and individuality


My name is all mine
I have ownership and control over my own identity


Baby we've got to come together
We need to unite and work together for justice and equality


Love each other
We need to have compassion and empathy for one another


Now you know just what to do
Now that you are aware of these challenges and inequalities, you know how to take action and make a difference


Show them that you ain't no fool
Demonstrate that you are aware of these issues and are taking meaningful action to address them




Contributed by Logan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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