Apocalypse Now and Then
Every Time I Die Lyrics


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You got me right where you wanted me
So what do we do if I can't hold this pose for too long?
Do we shoot again, or does the whole operation shut down and we go back to the board?
I practiced all my lines, oh yea I'd feed every child in the world
But it's a one night stand baby
We gotta keep on
If you got it all then you got it right
I'm gonna do what you say and get way out of line
Nobody's gonna stop me now
It's not how it looks unless you saw nothing
We all agree this proposal's been sentenced to death
Are we baiting the right hook to catch your attention?
The media needs another blackout
We've been calling
Flooding hotlines

We've applied mascara to the radio but that's just a quick fix and we need a little more
Does it matter to you at all?
Are you listening or have you tuned out?
We've gotta get it together
But first we drink and we take it all apart
Everywhere we go we're the local boys and we're back in town
Well that's the way it is
It breaks my heart
We've applied mascara to the radio, but that's just a quick fix and we need a little more
Does it matter to you at all?
Are you listening or have you tuned out?
Get by
Get gone




Get high
Get wronged

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of “Apocalypse Now and Then” by Every Time I Die can be interpreted as a scathing commentary on the state of the media and the modern world's obsession with instant gratification. The lines "We've applied mascara to the radio but that's just a quick fix and we need a little more" and "Are we baiting the right hook to catch your attention? The media needs another blackout" reveal the desperation of media outlets to capture people's attention, even if it means covering up the truth with superficiality. The line "We all agree this proposal's been sentenced to death" implies that there is a conscious decision to sacrifice meaningful discourse and ideas in favor of sensationalism that generates more ratings and revenue.


The song also touches on the theme of personal responsibility and the need to take action rather than just talking about grand plans. The line "I practiced all my lines, oh yea I'd feed every child in the world, but it's a one night stand baby, we gotta keep on" suggests that although the singer may have good intentions, it means nothing if they do not follow through with actions. The chorus reinforces this idea, with lines like "Get by, get gone, get high, get wronged" implying that taking any action is better than doing nothing.


Overall, “Apocalypse Now and Then” is a cynical take on the state of society and the media, urging people to take responsibility and take action instead of just talking.


Line by Line Meaning

You got me right where you wanted me
I feel trapped and under your control.


So what do we do if I can't hold this pose for too long?
What's our backup plan if I can't keep up the act?


Do we shoot again, or does the whole operation shut down and we go back to the board?
Do we try again or give up completely?


I practiced all my lines, oh yea I'd feed every child in the world
I've prepared to say whatever it takes to please you.


But it's a one night stand baby
This isn't going to last forever.


We gotta keep on
We have to continue even if it's difficult.


If you got it all then you got it right
You're in the position of power and control.


I'm gonna do what you say and get way out of line
I'll follow your instructions even if it's unusual or risky.


Nobody's gonna stop me now
I'm committed to this course of action.


It's not how it looks unless you saw nothing
Appearances can be deceiving; only those unaware will not understand.


We all agree this proposal's been sentenced to death
We all know this idea is going to fail.


Are we baiting the right hook to catch your attention?
Is our plan going to work to get your attention?


The media needs another blackout
The media is looking for something controversial to report on.


We've been calling
We've been trying to reach out to you.


Flooding hotlines
Contacting various communication channels to make noise.


We've applied mascara to the radio but that's just a quick fix and we need a little more
We've tried to make our message look good, but it's not enough.


Does it matter to you at all?
Do you even care about what we're trying to say?


Are you listening or have you tuned out?
Are you paying attention or ignoring us?


We've gotta get it together
We need to come up with a better plan.


But first we drink and we take it all apart
Before we brainstorm, let's relax and take a break.


Everywhere we go we're the local boys and we're back in town
We're known locally and we're back in our area.


Well that's the way it is
That's how things are really going on.


It breaks my heart
It's saddening and disappointing.


Get by
Go on with life.


Get gone
Leave the current environment and start anew.


Get high
Intoxicate yourself to escape reality.


Get wronged
Try to get revenge for feeling mistreated.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDREW JOHN WILLIAMS, JORDAN TAYLOR BUCKLEY, KEITH MICHAEL BUCKLEY, MICHAEL FRANCIS NOVAC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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