Dirt
Roine Stolt Lyrics

The flickering TV reflects in the needle
The TV reflects in the needle - it's unclear whether this is a metaphor for addiction, or a literal reflection of the TV in a needle. Either way, it's a bleak image.

Someone's little baby just overdosed
A young child has overdosed, which is a tragic event that often seems senseless.

The highway patrol just killed a speeder
The police have killed someone who was speeding, which raises questions about the role of law enforcement and the value of human life.

Who's responsible for all this grief?
The artist is questioning who or what is responsible for the suffering and pain in the world.

Who puts the guns in the hands of the killers?
The artist is questioning who or what is enabling people to commit violent acts with guns.

The cynic just reached another high!
The singer is pointing out that cynicism is often taken to an extreme, which can be damaging to a person's mental state.

Innocence lies slowly dying in a sad and lost America
The singer is lamenting the state of America and its apparent loss of innocence and hope.

When the light goes out we just can't help but falling
When things get dark or difficult, people often struggle and fail to cope effectively.

You see, we all dig the dirt and we all dig the moaning
People are drawn to dark or depressing themes, and seem to enjoy wallowing in sadness or despair.

When the light goes dim and all the bad keeps coming
When things get worse and people can't see a way out, they may become overwhelmed by negative emotions.

We all can dig, familiar smells of thousand years of torment
Humans seem to have a fascination with pain and suffering, and find the idea of something being old and darkly mysterious alluring.

We get intrigued by crime, 'cause death is mystifying
People often find the idea of murder or violent crime fascinating, perhaps because it is so different from their own lives.

See, people dig their lives, but love the art of dying
People may value their own lives, but also find a twisted beauty in death or destruction.

And when the mercury falls I see the soldiers coming
When things get tough or dangerous, people may look to authority figures or military power for safety and security, even if it comes at a cost.

It's just another move in a pointless game to justify the torment
All these actions and struggles seem meaningless and futile, and do little to alleviate the suffering people experience.

When the light goes dim it strikes without warning
Tragedy or pain can come upon someone suddenly, and without any fair warning.

It's like a wave of anger and despair, in spirit of the moment
These overwhelming feelings can be felt like a wave that washes over someone, completely overtaking them and causing them to lose control.

A man without a name will never see the morning
People who are forgotten or ignored by society may never have a chance to succeed or experience happiness.

A million died in Africa I fear and still the world was barely yawning
The world often seems indifferent to the suffering of people in other parts of the world, even when it is on a large scale and could be prevented.

I really don't know where it's coming from
The artist is confused and bewildered by all the suffering and pain they see around them, and can't understand its origins.

I thought you loved us, but I must be wrong
The artist is questioning the existence or nature of a higher power or god who would allow so much misery in the world.

Just when I thought it's gonna work out fine
Just when the artist thought things would finally start to go well, something terrible happened.

You send those nameless shivers down my spine
The singer is experiencing intense feelings of fear and anxiety that seem to come from nowhere.

Just when I thought that all was nice and clean
The artist thought everything was fine and orderly, but found out that things were actually far from what they seemed.

You send those demons to distort my dreams
The singer is tormented by restless and disturbing dreams that seem to be out of their control.

You send the belly dancers up from hell
The singer is disturbed by the appearance of something otherwise pleasant or attractive, but is made sinister or grotesque in some way.

There's something wicked but I just can't tell
The singer senses that something evil or wrong is happening, but can't quite put their finger on what it is or where it is coming from.

Something lurking down in the deep
There is something dangerous or malignant hiding beneath the surface of things.

But love's last warrior has fallen asleep
Love or devotion might have once been a force that could combat evil or darkness, but it now appears to be powerless or dormant.

Tiny ripples but they travel fast
Small or innocuous-seeming things can actually have a big impact or spread quickly.

A wall of mud will be king here ever after
Something that seems weak or insignificant will actually prove to be incredibly powerful or destructive.

Another triumph for the unexpected
An unpredictable or surprising event has occurred, taking people by surprise and possibly changing the course of events.

All rhyme and reason disconnected
The usual patterns or rules of life have broken down in some way or another, leading to a sense of chaos or confusion.

Love just drowned in the wishing well
Love or positive feelings may be present, but are ultimately powerless to change or improve people's lives.

Outside a dark and dirty hotel
The setting of this story is a sad, dingy place that reinforces the bleakness of the narrative.

Nameless bodies cover the ground
People have died or been killed, but their identities are unknown and their lives are effectively forgotten.

Somewhere in the distance there's a barking hell hound
There is a sense of danger or evil, represented by a vicious dog, lurking nearby and growing ever closer.

Dripping oil from abandoned tankers
The setting is littered with abandoned or broken objects that contribute to the sense of decay and ruin depicted in the song.

The smiling Goddess is cold and stiff
Even something that is typically associated with beauty or positivity (like a goddess) can become lifeless or corrupt in this world.