Dead Heaven
Gary Numan Lyrics


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Thought I was asleep
Lost to dreams
I was dying in a big machine
Didn't think the voice that called me
Could be real.

Thought I woke up
Lost my faith
I was staring at the face of rage
Didn't think I'd see the demon in "His" heart

Thought I saw blood
Turn to wine
A vision from the angel wars
Didn't think I'd find the savior in the dark

Thought I saw a light
Tear the storm
Showing me the way to God
Didn't know that Heaven died and went to Hell

Blessed is dead Heaven
Blessed are shadows and pain
Blessed is dead Heaven
Blessed is death in "His" name

Thought I saw rain
Black and cold
Falling on a child's grave
Thought I saw an angel laugh and piss on it

Thought I saw a dance
Strange and cruel
Swaying to the screams of men
Thought I saw the Lord's disciples laugh at that

Thought I saw love
Sacrificed
Mary under three wise men
Thought I saw the Virgin look at me and cry

Thought I saw a cross
And Jesus dead
Burning in the midnight sky
Thought I saw God dancing in the flames

Glory is dead Heaven
Glory is shadows and pain
Glory is dead Heaven
Glory is death in "His" name

"Do you confess?"
"Cleanse your sin"
"Do you believe in the word of God?"

Welcome to dead Heaven
Welcome to shadows and pain




Welcome to dead Heaven
Welcome to death in "His" name

Overall Meaning

Gary Numan's 1994 song Dead Heaven is a dark reflection on the nature of faith and belief, tackling weighty themes of sin, salvation, and damnation. The lyrics themselves are rife with biblical allusions and imagery, painting a picture of a world where even the most devout believers are lost and struggling to find their way. The opening lines set the tone, as the singer awakens from a dream-like state to the realization that they are "dying in a big machine." This sense of being trapped or lost is repeated throughout the song, with references to "dead Heaven," "shadows and pain," and "death in "His" name."


Despite the bleakness of the lyrics, there are also moments of hope and redemption. The vision of blood turning to wine and the savior being found in the dark suggest that even in the most trying times, there is still the possibility of grace. However, the song also contains moments of grotesque imagery, such as the vision of an angel laughing and urinating on a child's grave, and the Lord's disciples laughing at the screams of men. This juxtaposition of beauty and horror is a hallmark of Numan's style, and adds to the unsettling feeling of the song overall.


Overall, Dead Heaven is an intense and complex song that challenges listeners to grapple with the nature of faith and belief. With its potent imagery and confrontational lyrics, it is a powerful exploration of the limits of human experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Thought I was asleep
Believed to be in a state of sleep


Lost to dreams
Unaware of the reality, immersed in dreams


I was dying in a big machine
Sensation of dying while being trapped in a large, mechanical device


Didn't think the voice that called me / Could be real
Assumed the voice to be an illusion, not reality


Thought I woke up
Assumed to have woken up from sleep


Lost my faith
Lost belief in the divine power


I was staring at the face of rage
Looking at a furious face filled with anger


Didn't think I'd see the demon in "His" heart
Didn't expect to witness evil in the heart of God


Thought I saw blood
Imagined to have seen blood


Turn to wine
Transformed into wine


A vision from the angel wars
A supernatural sighting from a celestial battle


Didn't think I'd find the savior in the dark
Didn't expect to find salvation in the midst of darkness


Thought I saw a light
Saw a glimpse of light


Tear the storm
Tore apart the storm


Showing me the way to God
Guided towards salvation


Didn't know that Heaven died and went to Hell
Unaware that paradise has transformed into a living hell


Blessed is dead Heaven
The cursed version of the once blessed paradise


Blessed are shadows and pain
The misfortune that brings blessings


Blessed is death in "His" name
A solemn recognition of death as a part of God's plan


Thought I saw rain
Believed the falling liquid to be rain


Black and cold
Dark and freezing in nature


Falling on a child's grave
Dropping onto the resting place of an innocent soul


Thought I saw an angel laugh and piss on it
Hallucination of a heavenly creature desecrating the tomb


Thought I saw a dance
Perceived a performance of some kind


Strange and cruel
Bizarre and merciless


Swaying to the screams of men
Moving rhythmically to the agonizing sounds of male torture


Thought I saw the Lord's disciples laugh at that
Assumed the followers of Christ to be mocking the horrific act


Thought I saw love
Believed to see a display of affection


Sacrificed
Offered as a sacrifice


Mary under three wise men
Mary accompanied by the three wise men


Thought I saw the Virgin look at me and cry
Felt the Mother of Jesus crying to his soul


Thought I saw a cross
Sight of a crucifix


And Jesus dead
Jesus' lifeless body on the cross


Burning in the midnight sky
On fire against the dark backdrop of the night sky


Thought I saw God dancing in the flames
Believed to have seen God rejoicing amidst the inferno


Glory is dead Heaven
Formerly praiseworthy afterlife turned desolate


Glory is shadows and pain
Worship-worthy experience transformed into misery


Glory is death in "His" name
Worthiness attributed to death as a part of God's plan


"Do you confess?"
Enquiring about acknowledging guilt


"Cleanse your sin"
Requesting to purify the soul


"Do you believe in the word of God?"
Asking about faith in the divine power


Welcome to dead Heaven
Arrival to the cursed paradise


Welcome to shadows and pain
Reception to the misery and darkness


Welcome to death in "His" name
Acceptance of death as the handiwork of the Almighty




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gary Anthony Webb, Gary Anthony James Webb

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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