All or Nothing
Madball Lyrics

You can say we're all born to lose in a sense
As human beings, we are all inherently flawed and imperfect.

We all live to die and who knows if there's an afterlife
Death is an inevitable part of life and the concept of an afterlife is uncertain.

Either way you hope to leave your mark in some way through the journeys you'll embark on
Despite the inevitability of death, it's important to make a meaningful impact during our time on earth.

An old man told me
The artist is about to share a piece of wisdom passed down to them.

Kid never settle for anything less than you deserve
The old man advised the artist to demand respect and recognition for their hard work and talents.

Wearing a medal on his chest
The old man may have been a veteran or accomplished in some other way.

A silver star for valor
The old man was recognized for his courageous actions.

He didn't have much but was content and what he did mattered
The old man found fulfillment in making a difference, even if he didn't have much material wealth.

He went all out for us we should go all out for him and us
The artist feels a sense of obligation to honor the old man's legacy by living life to the fullest and striving for excellence.

Hate us or love us we came to prove something
The artist and their companions have a desire to demonstrate their worth and make an impact.

So in the end we can't say it was all for nothing (all OR nothing)
The singer hopes that their efforts will be meaningful and not wasted in the end.

We live to learn
Living life is a journey of continuous growth and education.

Earn our place in life
Individuals must work hard to gain respect and recognition in society.

But don't go out without a fight
One should always strive to overcome adversity and not give up easily.

I strive to be the best at whatever I do even when I'm being bad
The singer desires excellence and is self-aware of their flaws and mistakes.

Yeah that's the honest truth
The artist is not trying to deceive anyone and is being genuine.

But being bad never got me anywhere good
The artist acknowledges that their past mistakes have not led to positive outcomes.

So I chose the other road
The singer decided to make a change and pursue a different path in life.

I had a choice
The singer had agency over their decisions and actions.

Many brothers gone by the way side
The artist has experienced loss and knows others who have died.

Sisters too
The artist also knows women who have passed away.

The sorrow it fills my eyes
The artist experiences grief and sadness when thinking about those they've lost.

I want to fight
The singer desires to take action against the system or conditions that led to these losses.

I want to blame
The artist feels anger and wants to hold someone accountable for the loss and pain.

I want to take names
The singer wants to identify and punish those responsible for the suffering.

But in the end it's all part of the game
Despite the desire for justice, the singer recognizes that loss and suffering are a part of life that cannot always be controlled.

For them we set examples
The singer sees a reason to live well and set a good example in honor of those they've lost.

They went all out for us we should go all out for them and us
The artist feels a sense of obligation to honor those they've lost by living life to the fullest and making the most of their time.

Respect us
The artist and their companions demand respect for their hard work and dedication.

Or fear us
The singer and their companions may use force or intimidation to assert their dominance and authority.

We came to be something
The singer and their companions have ambitions and goals to achieve in life.

We laugh
The artist and their companions find joy and humor in life.

We cry
The artist and their companions experience and express sadness and grief.

We sacrifice
The artist and their companions are willing to give up something important for the greater good.

All or nothing
The singer is not content with mediocrity and desires either complete success or failure.