DEAD END
Smut Peddlers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

My dear loaded friend
Please hear what I'm saying
You're not gonna win
At this game you're playing
You'll go straight to hell
If you go anywhere
I tell you this
Only because I care
Slow down friend
Your wicked ways you've got to mend
Hit the brakes my friend
You're headed for a dead end
You're pulling the wool
Over everyone's eyes
When you say that you're clean
While you savor your highs
Yes, you are slick
And I'm just a fool
But the Devil
Is gonna take you to school
You knew you were losing the game you were in
When you had to do time for heroin
You turned to the Lord and you got salvation
But you thought it would be different with some medication
After your completion of a famous rehab
Your doctor prescribed you some Loritab
It helped your anxiety and general pain
But the pilot was ignited and now you're insane
You say it's from a doctor so it doesn't count
You have a real prescription for a medical amount
You speak sober lingo but your eyes are pinned
You'd suck my cock for some Vicodin
Like so many before, you developed "bad back"
And to cool it down, took a chunk o' smack
One day at a time you sell your soul
Submerged in denial, you're out of control
The real things in your life are up on the shelf
Like most of us, I guess, you've got to find out for yourself
You don't want a square telling you what to do
The rules of the road don't apply to you
But when I look in your eyes, my heart gets the knife
Cuz you made a wrong turn on the road of life




I'm only trying to flag you down my friend
Pull over, turn around, you're headed for a dead end

Overall Meaning

The Smut Peddlers’ song “Dead End” tells the story of a man who refuses to face his addiction, spiraling deeper into drug use until his life has reached a dead end. The lyrics are a plea from a friend to this man, encouraging him to slow down, turn around, and seek help before it’s too late. Throughout the song, the friend expresses concern for his friend’s well-being, urging him to be honest with himself and those around him about his drug use. The lyrics describe the man as “slick,” able to convince others that he is clean and sober when in reality he is struggling with addiction. The song speaks to the power of addiction and the difficulty of overcoming it, even with the help of rehab and medication.


The lyrics to “Dead End” are poignant and powerful, offering a glimpse into the heartbreaking struggle of addiction. The song is a reminder that addiction can happen to anyone and that it can have devastating consequences. The friend’s plea to the man in the song is a call to action, urging listeners to be there for their friends and loved ones who may be struggling with addiction, to offer support and encouragement, and to help them get the help they need.


Line by Line Meaning

My dear loaded friend
Addressing a friend who is addicted to drugs and has money to spare


Please hear what I'm saying
Requesting the friend's attention to what he is about to say


You're not gonna win
The friend's addiction will lead to his defeat


At this game you're playing
Metaphorically referring to the addiction as a game


You'll go straight to hell
The consequences of continued addiction will inevitably lead to hell


If you go anywhere
Not specifying a particular location as the cause of the friend's downfall


I tell you this
Reassuring the friend that he is only trying to help


Only because I care
The artist cares enough to intervene and try to help the friend


Slow down friend
Advising the friend to take a break and reconsider his choices


Your wicked ways you've got to mend
Asking the friend to repent and change his ways


Hit the brakes my friend
Using a driving metaphor to suggest the friend should stop his destructive behavior


You're headed for a dead end
Warning the friend that his addiction will eventually lead to a disastrous end


You're pulling the wool
Accusing the friend of being deceitful about being clean


Over everyone's eyes
The friend is hiding his addiction from others


When you say that you're clean
The friend claims to be sober but is hiding the truth


While you savor your highs
The friend is secretly enjoying his drug use despite the risks


Yes, you are slick
The friend is cunning and deceitful about his addiction


And I'm just a fool
The singer feels foolish for believing the friend's lies


But the Devil
Symbolic of the consequences of sinful behavior


Is gonna take you to school
The Devil will punish the friend for his sins


You knew you were losing the game you were in
The friend was aware of the consequences of his addiction


When you had to do time for heroin
The friend went to jail for drug-related crimes


You turned to the Lord and you got salvation
The friend tried to find redemption through religion


But you thought it would be different with some medication
The friend believed that prescription medication was safe and different from illegal drugs


After your completion of a famous rehab
The friend went through a well-known drug rehabilitation program


Your doctor prescribed you some Loritab
The friend was given a prescription painkiller by a doctor


It helped your anxiety and general pain
The medication temporarily relieved the friend's physical and emotional pain


But the pilot was ignited and now you're insane
The medication triggered the friend's addiction and worsened his mental state


You say it's from a doctor so it doesn't count
The friend believes that prescription medication is safe and different from illegal drugs


You have a real prescription for a medical amount
The friend has a legitimate prescription for the medication


You speak sober lingo but your eyes are pinned
The friend pretends to be sober but his physical appearance suggests otherwise


You'd suck my cock for some Vicodin
The friend is willing to do anything to obtain drugs


Like so many before, you developed "bad back"
A common excuse used by addicts to obtain painkillers


And to cool it down, took a chunk o' smack
The friend turned to heroin to cope with his addiction


One day at a time you sell your soul
The friend is sacrificing his morals for his addiction


Submerged in denial, you're out of control
The friend is in denial and unable to control his addiction


The real things in your life are up on the shelf
The friend is neglecting important relationships and responsibilities


Like most of us, I guess, you've got to find out for yourself
The singer acknowledges that people often have to learn from their own mistakes


You don't want a square telling you what to do
The friend does not want to be told how to live his life by someone who doesn't understand his situation


The rules of the road don't apply to you
The friend believes that he is exempt from societal norms and rules


But when I look in your eyes, my heart gets the knife
The artist is saddened by the friend's condition and the impact it has on their relationship


Cuz you made a wrong turn on the road of life
Metaphorically referencing the friend's addiction as a detour from the path of a fulfilling life


I'm only trying to flag you down my friend
The singer is attempting to get the friend's attention in order to help him


Pull over, turn around, you're headed for a dead end
Advising the friend to acknowledge his addiction and turn his life around before it's too late




Contributed by Samuel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found