Magnolia Park is a five piece pop punk/alternative rock band from Orlando, … Read Full Bio ↴Magnolia Park is a five piece pop punk/alternative rock band from Orlando, Florida. The band blends elements of hip-hop, pop punk and Emo to create a captivating sound and haunting aesthetic. The first iteration of the band formed in 2019, with the mission to inventively fuse genres while increasing inclusivity in the punk world. They are dedicated to spreading the message of #PopPunkInColor to ensure that the genre is one where people of all backgrounds are represented on and off stage.

The band is lead vocalist Joshua Roberts, guitarists Tristan Torres and Freddie Criales, bassist Jared Kay, drummer Joe Horsham, and keyboardist Vincent Ernst.

Dead On Arrival
Magnolia Park Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

They say that life's a gift so I'm living in the present
It's easy for the rich but I'm living like a peasant
Crying every night 'cause I'm used to all the wreckage
Paranoid, suffocating like I'm breathless

Dead, dead
And I know the grave like the back of my hand
Stay stressed, pretend

It's all game 'til I fall off the edge

Maybe I am just a bad person
It's the reason why I'm living with these curses
Put my faith in everyone but their all serpents
'Cause the devil got my soul and keeps it burning
You can't find it from me, it's like a disease
I beg and plead but no one's gonna save me

Dead, dead
And I know the grave like the back of my hand
Stay stressed, pretend
It's all game 'til I fall off the edge

Put the nail my coffin, I don't stand a chance
When the whole world against you
It's hard not to laugh when you dead, dead
When your dead on arrival, dead on arrival

Feels like I could die
Sends shivers down my spine
I got targets on my back
I cut my fingers reaching out for your hand

Now I'm dead, dead
And I know the grave like the back of my hand

Stay stressed, pretend
It's all game 'til I fall off the edge

Put the nail my coffin, I don't stand a chance
When the whole world against you
It's hard not to laugh when you dead, dead
When you're dead on arrival, dead on arrival

Overall Meaning

In the opening verse of Magnolia Park's song "Dead on Arrival," the lyrics convey a sense of grappling with the complexities and challenges of life. The singer acknowledges the concept of life as a gift, emphasizing the importance of living in the present moment. However, they juxtapose this sentiment with their own struggles, likening their living conditions to that of a peasant, which suggests a sense of feeling trapped or disadvantaged. The mention of crying every night due to the wreckage in their life hints at deep emotional pain and possibly a history of trauma. The imagery of feeling suffocated and breathless adds to the intensity of their internal struggles.

The chorus of the song reinforces a bleak perspective as the singer muses about death, referencing familiarity with the grave as a metaphor for their constant proximity to despair. The mention of staying stressed and pretending everything is a game until they reach a breaking point highlights a facade of coping mechanisms that eventually crumble under the weight of their inner turmoil. The repeated refrain of being "dead, dead" suggests a state of emotional numbness or a feeling of being spiritually depleted.

The following verse delves deeper into the singer's self-perception, grappling with feelings of guilt and self-doubt. They question their own morality, pondering whether they are inherently a "bad person" and attributing their struggles to living under a curse. The betrayal they feel from those they trusted, described as "serpents," deepens their sense of alienation and mistrust in humanity. The reference to the devil holding their soul and keeping it burning symbolizes a loss of control and agency over their own fate, intensifying their despair and sense of isolation.

As the song progresses, the singer's sense of hopelessness and resignation becomes more palpable. The imagery of being dead on arrival evokes a sense of inevitability and powerlessness in the face of adversity. The mention of feeling like a target with no escape emphasizes their deep-seated fear and vulnerability. The repetitive refrain of being dead reinforces a sense of finality and acceptance of their grim circumstances. The closing lines about reaching out for help but ultimately being left to fend for themselves encapsulates a poignant theme of abandonment and the futility of seeking salvation from external sources. The overall tone of the lyrics conveys a profound sense of desperation and resignation to a fate beyond their control.

Line by Line Meaning

They say that life's a gift so I'm living in the present
People often claim that life is a precious opportunity, which leads me to focus on the current moment.

It's easy for the rich but I'm living like a peasant
While success comes effortlessly to those with wealth, I struggle through life in a state of poverty and hardship.

Crying every night 'cause I'm used to all the wreckage
I find myself in tears each evening, accustomed to the chaos and destruction that surround me.

Paranoid, suffocating like I'm breathless
Overwhelmed by anxiety, I feel as if I can't breathe under the weight of my fears.

Dead, dead
I feel emotionally and spiritually depleted.

And I know the grave like the back of my hand
I have an intimate familiarity with death and despair.

Stay stressed, pretend
I constantly remain anxious while putting on a facade that everything is fine.

It's all game 'til I fall off the edge
Life feels like a playful illusion until I reach a breaking point.

Maybe I am just a bad person
I can't help but question whether my flaws define me as a terrible individual.

It's the reason why I'm living with these curses
These doubts and insecurities seem to be the source of my ongoing struggles.

Put my faith in everyone but they're all serpents
I trusted those around me, yet they have betrayed me, revealing their deceitful nature.

Cause the devil got my soul and keeps it burning
It feels as though a malevolent force has control over me, causing ongoing torment.

You can't find it from me, it's like a disease
My pain and anguish are deeply ingrained, difficult for others to comprehend or alleviate.

I beg and plead but no one's gonna save me
Despite my desperate cries for help, I remain abandoned in my struggles.

Dead, dead
The sense of emotional exhaustion persists.

And I know the grave like the back of my hand
I continue to carry an acute awareness of despair in my life.

Stay stressed, pretend
My life remains a constant struggle as I act as if everything is alright.

It's all game 'til I fall off the edge
This charade can only last until I reach a pivotal moment of crisis.

Put the nail my coffin, I don't stand a chance
Every negative experience is another step towards my downfall, making all hope seem lost.

When the whole world against you
Facing opposition from everyone around me makes my situation even more challenging.

It's hard not to laugh when you dead, dead
In the face of overwhelming despair, one can only find dark humor in the situation.

When you're dead on arrival, dead on arrival
Arriving at a state of total defeat before even starting the fight.

Feels like I could die
There’s a constant sensation of impending doom and mortality weighing heavily on me.

Sends shivers down my spine
The thought of my situation causes an intense emotional and physical reaction.

I got targets on my back
I feel vulnerable and exposed, akin to being hunted or threatened.

I cut my fingers reaching out for your hand
In my desperate attempts to connect and find support, I end up hurting myself.

Now I'm dead, dead
The overwhelming exhaustion continues to haunt me.

And I know the grave like the back of my hand
I still possess a profound understanding of despair as it surrounds me.

Stay stressed, pretend
The cycle of anxiety and pretense remains relentless.

It's all game 'til I fall off the edge
The pretense of normalcy can only persist until an inevitable breakdown occurs.

Put the nail my coffin, I don't stand a chance
Each burden only drives me closer to my own demise, feeling hopeless.

When the whole world against you
The feeling of isolation and adversity amplifies my struggles.

It's hard not to laugh when you dead, dead
Finding humor in my suffering seems to be one of the few coping mechanisms left.

When you're dead on arrival, dead on arrival
It’s as if I entered this existence already defeated and doomed.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Vincent Ernst, Tristan Torres, Freddie Criales, Joshua Roberts, Joe Horsham, Jon Ludin, Alex Ghenea

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS