Underground
Overdrive Orchestra Lyrics
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With no place to call my own
And there's no shelter here, standing in the cold
And nobody even knows
Oh lord, you let me down
Laid my friend beneath the ground
Burn my letters, hold my calls
A week's gone by, the changes written on the wall
He was a boy about my age
He slipped and fell into a never-ending sleep
Left his stories on the page
Oh lord, you let him down
Cut him off and shut him up
How'd you like it if I played you just the same?
Oh wait, I think that I just did
It's been a long year, living underground
Hanging pictures on the wall
Won't you break me from this prison cell so cold?
And lead me down that hall
Oh lord, you let us down
Cut the chord and watch us burn
Won't you laugh it up, there's more to go around
Don't you know that it's your turn?
The song "Underground" by Overdrive Orchestra tells a story of a person who has been living underground for a year with no place of their own. The lyrics paint a picture of a desolate, cold and isolated existence with no one to turn to for help. The singer sings of feeling let down by their friend's death and God's failure to save him. The repeated use of the phrase "Oh Lord, you let me down" speaks of a loss of faith or trust in a higher power.
The singer also speaks of a week going by and the changes he sees, notably a boy of his age slipping and falling into a never-ending sleep. The death of the boy once again prompts the singer to accuse God of letting him down. The final plea of the song is for God to release them from their prison cell and lead them down the hall. The singer calls upon God to cut the chord and watch them burn, for it is the turn of the higher power to face the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long year, living underground
The singer has spent a significant amount of time in isolation or feeling disconnected from the rest of the world.
With no place to call my own
The singer doesn't feel like they have a home or a sense of belonging anywhere.
And there's no shelter here, standing in the cold
The singer feels exposed and vulnerable in their current situation.
And nobody even knows
The artist feels like their struggles and isolation are not understood by others.
Oh lord, you let me down
The artist is expressing disappointment or frustration towards a higher power, possibly for not providing guidance or support.
Laid my friend beneath the ground
The singer has experienced loss and is mourning the death of someone close to them.
Burn my letters, hold my calls
The singer is cutting themselves off from others and rejecting communication.
'Till there's nothing left at all
The artist is willing to completely disconnect from their previous life or relationships.
A week's gone by, the changes written on the wall
Something significant has happened and the artist is noticing the effects of time passing.
He was a boy about my age
The artist is no longer alone and is referencing someone else who has gone through a similar experience.
He slipped and fell into a never-ending sleep
The person the singer is referencing has died or possibly given up.
Left his stories on the page
The person left behind evidence of their existence or a reflection of their experiences.
Cut him off and shut him up
The higher power or society has silenced the person the singer is referencing.
How'd you like it if I played you just the same?
The singer is suggesting that they too could turn their back on the higher power or society.
Oh wait, I think that I just did
The singer has already rejected communication and is questioning their own actions.
Hanging pictures on the wall
The artist is trying to make their living space feel more like a home.
Won't you break me from this prison cell so cold?
The artist feels trapped and is asking for help.
And lead me down that hall
The singer wants someone to guide them towards a better situation or experience.
Cut the chord and watch us burn
The higher power or society is intentionally causing harm to the singer and others around them.
Won't you laugh it up, there's more to go around
The artist feels like they and others are being mistreated or taken advantage of.
Don't you know that it's your turn?
The artist is expressing anger or frustration towards the higher power or society for not doing more to help those in need.
Contributed by Elliot J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.