Dead Inside
One Year Later Lyrics

I've got a mouth full of roses
I have pretty words to say, but they are hiding the pain and suffering I am going through.

That cover the cuts
The beautiful words that I am using to hide my pain are just like a bandage covering the wounds, but they don't heal me.

There's thorns in my cheeks
The pain is still there, and it's not only inside, but it's also visible on the outside through the facial expressions.

Where the skin turned to rust
The reference to rust indicates the decay and death of emotions and feelings inside the person.

With lips around flowers
The person has learned to smile and talk positively despite the pain and suffering they're going through.

Is all that you see
The smile and positive talk façade is what others see, but it's not the truth.

I'm dying to spit it out
The person wants to speak up and reveal the truth, but they feel like they can't.

We're all dead inside
Despite our ability to appear happy and normal on the outside, we are all experiencing death and decay inside.

We're all dead inside
Repeating this line emphasizes that the previous statement is valid and true for everyone- no one is immune to the pain.

We're all dead inside and you know it
The person talking to someone else and saying that they both know that they both are experiencing pain and suffering, but they're not willing to share it.

We're painting our faces
We're using facades and masks to hide the pain and suffering we're going through.

To try not to show it
We are attempting to hide the pain and suffering we're going through and appear normal.

Over and over the work never ends
The work of pretending and hiding never ends, and we're continually expending energy to keep up the charade.

I'm digging in circles
The person is trying to find relief or answers but keeps coming up empty-handed as they are searching in the wrong place and direction.

I break before bend
The person refuses to give up on their ideals and principles and would rather 'break' than compromise and 'bend' their beliefs.

We don't remember the lender
The pain and suffering in our lives are a result of our actions - we owe it to ourselves.

That sold our soul
We've sacrificed our emotional well-being to attain the things that we wanted - things that never brought us true happiness.

We just remember the painter
We remember the things and people that make us happy and give us temporary relief from the pain and suffering.

That brushed us gold
We fondly remember the person or situation that painted a golden picture of our lives, even if it didn't last long.

I'm ripping my hair out
The person is experiencing frustration and desperation and is physically trying to alleviate the pain.

To use as a brush
The person is using their own pain to create beautiful art as a coping mechanism.

I've run out of colors
The person has exhausted all of their resources and doesn't have the energy or ability to create more beautiful things.

To use as a crutch
The person can't use the beautiful things they once did as a coping mechanism to keep going; now those things no longer work for them.

I'm painting a picture
The person is using their words to create an image of their pain and suffering.

With words I can't say
The person can't express the depth of their pain and suffering with everyday language and is struggling to articulate it properly.

But look on the inside
The person is inviting others to take a closer look at themselves and the pain they're hiding beneath the surface.

We're all black and gray
The pain and suffering that we're going through have drained us of any vibrancy and left us feeling lifeless and colorless.

I've been searching my whole life
The person has been trying to find something meaningful and fulfilling their entire life.

For something with meaning
The person wants to find something that's significant to them and can give them some semblance of happiness.

But all I found was bleeding
The person has only found pain and suffering, even though they've been searching their whole life for something different.

How can we live when we die every day?
The person is questioning how can they continue living their life if they're dying slowly every day due to the pain they're going through?

(Fuck it)
The person is resigning themselves to giving up on the façade they've been keeping up for so long.

We don't remember the lender
Repeating the chorus for the second time reemphasizes the overall message of the song - that pain, suffering, and the search for happiness are universal and impact us all in different ways.

That sold our soul

We just remember the painter

That brushed us gold