Dead City
MAYALL John & BLUESBREAKERS The Lyrics

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Going back to the desert
Arizona sun beat down
Getting sick of my troubles
Tired of this scuffling round
Cos living in Dead City
There ain't no peace around

Saw a man on the corner

Holding out his hand
No home nor money
This ain't how he'd planned
Rotting here in this Dead City
Doin' best he can

Going back to the canyons
Fish in a mountain stream
Get a start with a new life
Cut loose from all I'd been

Get away from Dead City
Where the police sirens scream

Overall Meaning

The song "Dead City" by John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers tells the story of a man who is tired of the difficulties in his life and wants to leave everything behind. The lyrics use the imagery of the hot Arizona desert, the hopelessness of a man holding out his hand for help, and the contrast of finding peace in nature. The singer is tired of living in a city that's dead, with no hope and no way out. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and the desire to break free from a monotonous, unfulfilling existence.

The song touches on common themes of loneliness, hopelessness, and the need for a fresh start. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is searching for something, trying to break free from the shackles of his life. The repeated refrain of "going back" could be interpreted as the man reminiscing about a time when things were better, but he wants to move forward and start a new life.

Overall, "Dead City" is a poignant and thought-provoking song that tackles themes that are still relevant today, such as poverty, inequality, and the search for purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

Going back to the desert
Returning to the barren wasteland

Arizona sun beat down
The intense heat of the Arizona sun beats on relentlessly

Getting sick of my troubles
Growing weary of my problems

Tired of this scuffling round
Weary of the constant struggle

Cos living in Dead City
Because life in the desolate, hopeless Dead City

There ain't no peace around
Is devoid of any peace or tranquility

Saw a man on the corner
Observed a man standing on the street corner

Holding out his hand
Asking for money

No home nor money
Being without a home or financial resources

This ain't how he'd planned
Not how he had envisioned his life

Rotting here in this Dead City
Decaying in this hopeless and lifeless place