El Dorado
Every Time I Die Lyrics


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You were alone when you came in
You'll be alone when you leave again
And in the middle there's nothing that can keep you around when it's time to go home
Because everybody I lean on (since I don't trust myself)
Leans on someone else
Watch the colonies collapse like dominos
I could beg and I could plead but all I hear is the echo of my own voice begging me
The fossils of the teen age are well preserved in the arctic wasteland
The fossils of the teen age are well preserved
I crawled on hands and knees just to be there with you and you moved on without me
Scrap the crown
Clean the slate
Cut off your roots
You're own your own
Scrap the crown
Clean the slate
Cut off your roots
You're own your own
We all need something
I'm a gypsy queen without a swarm and the burning bridges keep me warm
I'm a new wave in a dried up stream
I'm just trying to find my way out to the sea
You were alone when you came in
You'll be alone when you leave again
And in the middle there's nothing that can keep you around when it's time to go home
Because everybody I lean on (since I don't trust myself)
Leans on someone else
Watch the colonies collapse like dominos
I could beg and I could plead but all I hear is the echo of my own voice begging me
The fossils of the teen age are well preserved in the arctic wasteland




The fossils of the teen age are well preserved in the arctic waste
Crush your allies

Overall Meaning

"El Dorado" by Every Time I Die is an emotive and introspective song that deals with themes of personal struggle and detachment from other people. The song opens with the lines "You were alone when you came in / You'll be alone when you leave again," which establish a sense of solitude that pervades the entire song. The next line, "And in the middle there's nothing that can keep you around when it's time to go home," suggests a feeling of transience or impermanence, and a sense of being adrift in a world where nothing truly lasts. The singer describes how everyone they rely on "leans on someone else," which highlights the difficulty of connecting with others in a meaningful way.


The chorus of the song echoes the sense of isolation and desperation that the verses convey. The line "I could beg and I could plead but all I hear is the echo of my own voice begging me" suggests a profound sense of emptiness or futility, as if the singer is reaching out in vain for some kind of solace or comfort that is ultimately unattainable. The second half of the song features some striking imagery, such as "the fossils of the teen age are well preserved in the arctic wasteland," which suggests a sense of nostalgia for a time when things felt simpler or more certain. The repeated refrain of "scrap the crown / clean the slate / cut off your roots / you're on your own" reinforces the sense of detachment and self-sufficiency that runs throughout the song.


Overall, "El Dorado" is a powerful and deeply affecting song about the struggle to connect with others and find meaning in a world that often feels hostile and alienating. The lyrics are delivered with raw emotion and vulnerability, making it a standout track on Every Time I Die's already impressive discography.


Line by Line Meaning

You were alone when you came in
You arrived all by yourself


You'll be alone when you leave again
You're going to depart without anyone accompanying you


And in the middle there's nothing that can keep you around when it's time to go home
There's nothing to bind you when it is time to return home


Because everybody I lean on (since I don't trust myself) Leans on someone else
Those I rely on also rely on someone else, since I don't trust myself


Watch the colonies collapse like dominos
Observe the countries give way like dominos


I could beg and I could plead but all I hear is the echo of my own voice begging me
I can supplicate and implore, but all I receive is the repetition of my own voice imploring myself


The fossils of the teen age are well preserved in the arctic wasteland
The remnants of teenage years are well-preserved in the frozen barren region


The fossils of the teen age are well preserved
The souvenirs of adolescence endure through time


I crawled on hands and knees just to be there with you and you moved on without me
I fervently strived to be by your side, yet you left me behind


Scrap the crown Clean the slate Cut off your roots You're on your own Scrap the crown Clean the slate Cut off your roots You're on your own
Abandon your royalty, start over from scratch, sever your ties, and rely on yourself


We all need something
We all require something


I'm a gypsy queen without a swarm and the burning bridges keep me warm
I am a queen of the wanderers, with no companions, and the flaming bridges provide me with warmth


I'm a new wave in a dried up stream I'm just trying to find my way out to the sea
I'm a new rise in a watercourse emptied of water I'm struggling to locate the ocean


Crush your allies
Defeat your associates




Lyrics © MOTHERSHIP MUSIC PUBLISHING

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

layladystay

You were alone when you came in
You'll be alone when you leave again
And in the middle there's nothing that can keep you around when it's time to go home
Because everybody I lean on (since I don't trust myself)
Leans on someone else
Watch the colonies collapse like dominos
I could beg and I could plead but all I hear is the echo of my own voice begging me
The fossils of the teen age are well preserved in the arctic wasteland
The fossils of the teen age are well preserved
I crawled on hands and knees just to be there with you and you moved on without me
Scrap the crown
Clean the slate
Cut off your roots
You're own your own
Scrap the crown
Clean the slate
Cut off your roots
You're own your own
We all need something
I'm a gypsy queen without a swarm and the burning bridges keep me warm
I'm a new wave in a dried up stream
I'm just trying to find my way out to the sea
You were alone when you came in
You'll be alone when you leave again
And in the middle there's nothing that can keep you around when it's time to go home
Because everybody I lean on (since I don't trust myself)
Leans on someone else
Watch the colonies collapse like dominos
I could beg and I could plead but all I hear is the echo of my own voice begging me
The fossils of the teen age are well preserved in the arctic wasteland
The fossils of the teen age are well preserved in the arctic waste
Crush your allies



All comments from YouTube:

Jack Rendall

That ending riff though!!! FUCKING AWESOME!!! 👌

Alex W

Proper party tune! I love the influences in this album; hardcore, metal, rock, pop, everything! Another beast album! Not one album sucks by ETID... Gutter is my least favourite but even still, sweet album! Love Keith's signing in this one!

Connor Lingerfelt

It's funny how tastes differ between people because Gutter is one of my fav's! But i love pretty much all of their stuff, not really familiar with last night in town. I love the sound of this new album. More etid to listen to = happiness

Gustavo Vellame

That final riff!!!!

Joshua Mulligan

Rides into the sunset nicely

Randi W

That ending riff is fucking classic Andy. Love it

Kirk Blackadar

You just never want that ender riff to stop eh?. Play it at my funeral

Dominic Spizzirri

Scratch that, this might be my favorite song by them now.

T Pitty

map change

Max Christian

Killer riffs.

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