Dead Man Breathing
Hatebreed Lyrics


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I've grown colder
Than any other stone turned
Than any road crossed
On my way
I've grown colder
Than earth under foot
Than wind at my back
Now scabbed and cracked

I've grown colder
Just like your father
And his father before
Through the endless storm
I've grown colder
Than I ever was, beyond my beliefs
Will this ever cease?

It's begun
Choose your hell
You are no exception
I don't want to be another dead man breathing

Cold, I've grown colder than I ever was before
Cold, now, all I see are dead men breathing

For those who once rejoiced
I've grown cold
For those who feared and hated
I've grown cold
Who can't escape their grief
I've grown cold
Don't want to be another dead man breathing

I've grown colder
Than the mercy of whose looking down
Upon the silent graves of those who once paid with sins
I've grown colder
Than all those who wasted trust
Opening the gates without acknowledging the cost

It's begun
Choose your hell
You are no exception
Hands cannot drown the sounds of better men screaming

It's begun
Live to tell
Don't deny the instinct
I don't want to be another dead man breathing

It's begun
Choose your hell
You are no exception
Hands cannot drown the sounds of better men screaming

Don't want to be another dead man breathing
I'll curse and fight till my heart stops beating
Until my heart stops beating

It's begun
Choose your hell
You are no exception
Hands cannot drown the sounds of better men screaming

It's begun
Live to tell




Don't deny the instinct
I don't want to be another dead man breathing

Overall Meaning

The song "Dead Man Breathing" by Hatebreed is a portrayal of someone who has grown colder and harder due to the difficulties they have faced in life. The singer has become as cold as a stone, and as hard as the earth beneath their feet. They've experienced pain and loss, and it has left them feeling hollow and emotionless. They see themselves as becoming like those who came before them, and they fear that they will never again feel warmth or love.


The song seems to be about facing the fact that death is inevitable, and that the choices we make in life will determine how we are remembered after we're gone. The lyrics are a call to action, urging people to choose their path wisely and live with purpose. The singer doesn't want to end up just another "dead man breathing," merely existing without truly living.


The chorus repeats "I don't want to be another dead man breathing," again and again, emphasizing the importance of living life with purpose and meaning. The song argues that we should not deny our instincts, but rather embrace them and live life to the fullest.


Line by Line Meaning

I've grown colder
I've become more indifferent to the world


Than any other stone turned
Even the most lifeless objects appear to have more warmth than me


Than any road crossed
Even the toughest journeys don't make me feel anything


On my way
As I carry on with life


Than earth under foot
Even the ground beneath me seems to emit more heat than I do


Than wind at my back
The breeze that brushes past me feels warmer than I am


Now scabbed and cracked
My emotions have weathered over time and have become harder to rekindle


Just like your father
I've become as lifeless as those who came before me


And his father before
My ancestors have reflected the same emotional deadness as me


Through the endless storm
Despite all the trials and tribulations, my emotional state still remains bleak


Than I ever was, beyond my beliefs
Even I cannot fathom how dispassionate I've become


Will this ever cease?
I long for a change, for this numbness to go away


Choose your hell
We all have choices to make that will either positively/negatively affect our lives


You are no exception
Nobody is exempt from the consequences of their decisions


I don't want to be another dead man breathing
I don't want to be emotionally dead while still physically alive


For those who once rejoiced
Even those who were once happy cannot bring warmth to my heart


Who can't escape their grief
Even those grieving have an emotional presence that I lack


Than the mercy of whose looking down
Even divine beings seem to have more mercy than me


Upon the silent graves of those who once paid with sins
Even those who have atoned for their sins have more emotional presence than me


Than all those who wasted trust
Even those who have betrayed others still have more emotional depth than me


Opening the gates without acknowledging the cost
Those who recklessly enter situations still carry emotional depth


Hands cannot drown the sounds of better men screaming
Even if I try to ignore the success of others, it still resonates with me


Don't deny the instinct
Trust your instincts to make the right choices


I'll curse and fight till my heart stops beating
I'll do anything to feel alive again


Until my heart stops beating
I'll continue fighting this numbness until I no longer have a pulse




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRIS BEATTIE, JAMEY JASTA, MATTHEW P. BYRNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Matthew Steenburg

Hatebreed = one of the most underappreciated bands ever!

Dillon Dean

For as long as they've been around they're really underrated!

But shit on the bad side they still play small venues but on the good side they still sellout those small venues.

Steven Weber

i met these guys a few years ago and they were so chill, but i forgot to tell them how big a role they played in saving my life as a teenager....hatebreed is definitely an epic band

Gazz W

great song. made me happy and positive

Kevin F.J. Harris

DUDE...brilliant (this is real music)

CrazyFox01

HATEBREED IS SO GOOD.

AirsoftSniper6

awesome album

CleverDjembe

YOU FUCKING ROCK!!! THIS GOES HARD LIKE DIAMOND IN AN ICE STORM!

Nino Falletta

Powerful fucking song

Tom Gaydos

Going to see them live Friday, can't wait!

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