Associated genre: Indietronic
Hometown: Long Beach, California
Record label: Circuit Freq Records
Disease
Julien-K Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With nothing to do, and nobody around
Wasting your time in made up places
A queen surrounded by familiar faces
So life is hard, and you let it show
Priced to sell, with nowhere to go
This isn't who you wanted to be
So does it ease your mind to take it out on me?
You know you're like a disease
When you're so easy to please
Don't try to tie me down
Down on your hands and your knees
You can't save me, as you break me
Don't get up
Stand up
Let up
Won't let you bring me down
Now everybody's gathered around, like there's something to see
But all feel your eyes looking at me
To many times, and to many places
A love is lost, leaving no traces
And this is how the story goes
Wasted time with record lows
So tell me who you want me to be
A dead end ride or a new belief?
Can't blame everyone you see
When you only look at me
This song, Disease by Julien-K, is a powerful commentary on the effects of a difficult upbringing and the frustration, anger, and desperation that can result from it. The lyrics describe growing up in a "shit-hole town" with nothing to do and nobody around which leads to wasting time in made up places. This has resulted in feelings of being priced to sell with nowhere to go, which is not the person they wanted to be. The song asks the question “does it ease your mind to take it out on me?” which shows the frustration and anger that can be unleashed by the person stuck in the “shit-hole town”.
It then shifts to the chorus, “you know you're like a disease, when you're so easy to please”, which shows that the person is trying to find an escape to their situation, but their solution is a toxic one that ends up hurting others. The lines “Don't try to tie me down, down on your hands and your knees” highlight the desperation of the situation while also showing that it is impossible to be tied down by them. In the following lines, the song makes it clear that it is impossible to save them as their actions just break those around them.
The second verse details the damage that the actions of the person have caused, how their love is lost and how it has led to wasted time with record lows. They implore the listener to “tell me who you want me to be, a dead end ride or a new belief?” which shows that there is still hope for redemption and change. The last line of the song “Can't blame everyone you see when you only look at me” is a powerful statement that highlights the fact that the person needs to take responsibility for their actions and their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
So you grew up slow, in a shit-hole town
You were raised slowly in an unpleasant and uninteresting town.
With nothing to do, and nobody around
You were bored and alone in that town with no activities or people to interact with.
Wasting your time in made up places
You spent your time in imaginary locations.
A queen surrounded by familiar faces
You were like a queen among those you know.
So life is hard, and you let it show
You displayed how difficult life is for you.
Priced to sell, with nowhere to go
You had no expensive lifestyle to maintain and nowhere to go.
This isn't who you wanted to be
You desire to be something else.
So does it ease your mind to take it out on me?
Does venting at me make you feel better?
You know you're like a disease
You are like an illness.
When you're so easy to please
You are quickly satisfied.
Don't try to tie me down
Do not attempt to restrict me.
Down on your hands and your knees
You are in a position of submission.
You can't save me, as you break me
You cannot save me because you are destroying me.
Don't get up
Do not rise.
Stand up
Stand upright.
Let up
Relax.
Won't let you bring me down
I will not let you depress me.
Now everybody's gathered around, like there's something to see
People surround us, as if there is something to witness.
But all feel your eyes looking at me
However, the focus is on me due to your gaze.
To many times, and to many places
Too many times and in too many places.
A love is lost, leaving no traces
A relationship is over without any evidence of its existence.
And this is how the story goes
This is how it all unfolds.
Wasted time with record lows
Time was wasted, and the lowest point was reached.
So tell me who you want me to be
Tell me who you wish me to become.
A dead end ride or a new belief?
A hopeless journey or a fresh perspective?
Can't blame everyone you see
You cannot hold everyone accountable.
When you only look at me
When I am the only one you examine.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ivanpetrow3044
This song about night city - love it! Want to hear the instrumental version of this track soon!
@cynzia_d
One of the best songs from this album. It reminds me some atmospheres of Mansun "Attack of the grey lantern" days, especially in the highs
@ivanpetrow3044
AND HELP! Who knows the 2-18, 3-09, 3-28 words? It sounds like: "No, I can’t help us bring ME down" Am I right? Or maybe it's like: "No, I can’t help us bring YOU (or IT) down" .