Steve Burns first gained mainstream recognition when he became "Steve" in t… Read Full Bio ↴Steve Burns first gained mainstream recognition when he became "Steve" in the children's show Blues Clues. When he unexpectedly left the show, rumors spread quickly and globally. A lot included being admitted to drug rehab centers and even dying. None of them are true. Burns left on his own as he felt he had finished with Blues Clues and wanted to pursue other interests, most notably beginning a career as an indie rock singer/songwriter.

While writing songs in college after the show, Burns met with music producer Dave Friedmann, which lead to a collaboration with The Flaming Lips's multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd on an album, Songs for Dustmites and released in the summer of 2003.

Steve is currently working on a new album titled Deep Sea Recovery Efforts.

Dead
Steve Burns Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I returned a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the
Shelf before the expiration date

I came back as a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the
Shelf before the date stamped on myself

Did a large procession wave their
Torches as my head fell in the
Basket, and was everybody
Dancing on the casket?

Now, it's over, I'm dead and I haven't
Done anything that I want,
Or I'm still alive, and there's
Nothing I want to do

I will never say the word
"Procrastinate" again, I'll never
See myself in the mirror with my eyes closed

I didn't apologize for
When I was eight and I
Made my younger brother
Have to be my personal slave

Did a large procession wave their
Torches as my head fell in the
Basket, and was everybody
Dancing on the casket?

Now, it's over, I'm dead and I haven't
Done anything that I want,
Or I'm still alive, and there's
Nothing I want to do

So I won't
Sit at home
Anymore
And you won't
See my head in the window
And I won't be around
Ever anymore,
I'll be up there
On the wall at the school

I returned a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the
Shelf before the expiration date

I came back as a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the
Shelf before the date stamped on myself

Now, it's over, I'm dead and I haven't
Done anything that I want,

Or I'm still alive, and there's
Nothing I want to do

Overall Meaning

Steve Burns's song "Dead" speaks to the fear and uncertainty of life and death. The first verse uses the metaphor of returning a bag of groceries past the expiration date, which represents the idea that life can end suddenly and unexpectedly, without achieving everything you wanted to do. The second verse expands on this metaphor, with the singer imagining themselves as a bag of groceries that was taken off the shelf too soon, implying that they didn't have enough time to live fully.

The chorus then asks whether there was a large procession where the singer's head fell in the basket and whether people were dancing on the casket. This imagery can be interpreted as a metaphor for the singer's fear that their life may end in a violent or traumatic event, leaving behind a spectacle for others to witness.

The final verse ends on a note of acceptance and resignation, with the singer stating that they won't sit at home anymore or be seen through a window. They won't be around anymore, but rather will remain on the wall at the school. This final image is a haunting reminder of the impermanence of life, and the idea that our existence may only be defined by a faded photograph or memorial plaque.

Overall, Steve Burns's "Dead" is a thought-provoking and existential song that encourages listeners to consider their own mortality and the fleeting nature of life.

Line by Line Meaning

I returned a bag of groceries
I was given back as a bag of groceries

Accidentally taken off the Shelf before the expiration date
I was removed from the shelf before my expiry date

I came back as a bag of groceries
I returned as a bag of groceries

Accidentally taken off the Shelf before the date stamped on myself
I was removed from the shelf before my own stamped date

Did a large procession wave their Torches as my head fell in the Basket, and was everybody Dancing on the casket?
Did everyone celebrate my death and throw a procession?

Now, it's over, I'm dead and I haven't Done anything that I want, Or I'm still alive, and there's Nothing I want to do
Either I've died without living my dreams or I'm alive without any new aspirations

I will never say the word "Procrastinate" again, I'll never See myself in the mirror with my eyes closed
I vow to never delay again nor avoid facing myself

I didn't apologize for When I was eight and I Made my younger brother Have to be my personal slave
I didn't say sorry to my brother when I made him my servant at eight

So I won't Sit at home Anymore
I'll stop being idle at home

And you won't See my head in the window And I won't be around Ever anymore,
You won't see me lurking by the window anymore

I'll be up there On the wall at the school
I'll be memorialized on the school's wall

Contributed by Ella L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS