Their debut EP, ForPl, was released in 2009. The band's first full-length album, Voyeur, was released in 2012.
Their second album, saintmotelevision, was released in 2016.
On October 16, 2019, the band released the EP The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Part 1, the first of two extended plays consisting of songs from their third album, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, released June 25, 2021.
Dear Dictator
Saint Motel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not cause what you do or what you say,
It's just time to get leaving now.
Nobody has ever seen his face, but fear his smile.
I heard he'll drink your blood just for the taste, then laugh, and spit it out.
Everybody tends to disagree, on just how evil,
And at the trial, they'll be no jury, and all the dead are going to play witness.
It's not too late, to say you're sorry, but it's too late to truly mean it.
And at the trial, they'll be no jury, and all the dead are going to play witness.
It's not too late, to say you're sorry, but it's too late to truly mean it.
Everybody finally ran away, today.
It's cause what I do and what I say.
It's just time to get leaving, time to get leaving, time to get leaving now.
"Dear Dictator" is a song about a person in power who is feared by everyone but no one has ever seen his face. The fear he instills in people comes from the stories of him drinking blood and enjoying it. The lyrics suggest that people are starting to leave and run away, not because of anything he has done or said, but because it's time to go. The song talks about the difficulty in defining evil and how everyone seems to have a different opinion on it. It suggests that even though people are running away now, it will come to a point where it will be too late to say sorry.
The lyric "and all your bones they scream for more" is particularly insightful as it suggests that the dictator is taking so much from people that they are literally breaking down. The reference to a trial without a jury is an interesting one, suggesting that once the dictator is overthrown, there will be no need for a trial as everyone will know what he has done. The dead playing witness is also a unique concept, implying that their memories and experiences will speak for themselves.
Overall, "Dear Dictator" is a powerful song that explores the notion of power and the cost of unchecked evil.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone is gonna run away, today.
Everyone is going to leave today.
It's not cause what you do or what you say,
It's just time to get leaving now.
It's not because of your actions or words, it's simply time to leave.
Nobody has ever seen his face, but fear his smile.
Nobody has seen his face, but they fear him based on his smile.
I heard he'll drink your blood just for the taste, then laugh, and spit it out.
I heard he enjoys drinking blood for the taste, then laughs and spits it out.
Everybody tends to disagree, on just how evil,
A single human being should ever be, and all your bones they scream for more.
People have conflicting opinions on how evil one person can be, and the thought makes them shiver with fear.
And at the trial, they'll be no jury, and all the dead are going to play witness.
There won't be a jury at the trial, but the dead will bear witness.
It's not too late, to say you're sorry, but it's too late to truly mean it.
It's not too late to apologize, but it's too late to truly mean it.
Everybody finally ran away, today.
It's cause what I do and what I say.
It's just time to get leaving, time to get leaving, time to get leaving now.
Everyone has left because of my actions and words, and it's time for me to leave now.
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.