Small Deaths
The Dodos Lyrics


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comes a flooding of this stage
we'll be wading in its wake
sifting through old men in their place
leads us to greater thoughts to crave

tell me glacier where you've been
and why is your posture is so poor
i hear the heats been coming in
i see the sun is at your door

small deaths come too late

Oh my brother went to make
his day amongst the sharks and whales
he had a heart of gold I think
but when he left it wasn't there
(now he wants to on _____ make)
yeah he'd been saving, he'd be saving
so much to have, but nothing gave
all put it up, now in his grave

small deaths come too late

do you intend to pour your affection til you
die I don't want you wait
not until your try
do you intend to (fake) your affection
cause the tides telling you to wait
not until the tide

no more time to carry with you
no more time to carry with you
no more time to carry with you
no more time to carry with you

tend to the sound of what you believe and
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all be that way
when you were young
and there was fascination
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all

tend to the sound of what you believe and
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all be that way
when you were young
and there was fascination
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all

we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all




we can't, we can't all
we can't, we can't all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Dodos's song Small Deaths hint at the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of death. It is almost as if the singer is observing a flood and realizing that, just like the water, life will continue to move forward with or without them. They seem to be grappling with thoughts about the legacy they will leave behind, and whether they will be remembered for their actions or as old men who have faded away. The lines "comes a flooding of this stage/we'll be wading in its wake" suggest that life will continue to happen, and we will simply have to deal with whatever comes our way.


The song takes a more personal tone in the second verse, where the singer reflects on their brother's life and death. The lines "he had a heart of gold I think/but when he left it wasn't there" suggest that the brother may have lost his way in life or given into vices that ultimately led to his demise. The singer seems to question whether their brother's life was truly fulfilling, as he saved up for so long and never quite achieved what he had hoped for. The chorus, "small deaths come too late," is a reminder that regrets can only be felt after the fact, and that we should try to make the most of our time before it's too late.


Overall, Small Deaths is a poignant and introspective look at the nature of existence and the fleetingness of time. It encourages reflection on what truly matters in life and the legacies that we will leave behind.


Line by Line Meaning

comes a flooding of this stage
The stage is overwhelmed by an emotional surge.


we'll be wading in its wake
We will be affected by the emotional surge and must cope with its aftermath.


sifting through old men in their place
We are sorting through others who have come before us, trying to find answers and wisdom.


leads us to greater thoughts to crave
This process of seeking wisdom and answers drives us to want more and think beyond what we know.


tell me glacier where you've been
Asking the glacier where they have been and what they have experienced in order to gain some perspective.


and why is your posture is so poor
Asking why the glacier looks defeated and questioning how this corresponds to the state of the world.


i hear the heats been coming in
Noticing the impact of global warming.


i see the sun is at your door
The sun, a symbol of warmth and life, is directly approaching the glacier, causing it to melt more rapidly.


small deaths come too late
This line refers to the idea that the melting of the glacier will lead to larger consequences and death for individuals and our world. It is a warning that change needs to happen before it is too late.


Oh my brother went to make
The artist's brother went out to find a better life and make a name for himself.


his day amongst the sharks and whales
He went to sea to engage in a dangerous and exciting life.


he had a heart of gold I think
The artist believes his brother was a good person with sincere motivations.


but when he left it wasn't there
However, once he left, that goodness seemed to disappear, suggesting that he was not true to himself, or that the world changed him.


(now he wants to on _____ make)
This line seems incomplete, but suggests that, despite his brother's past, he still wants to create something and do something meaningful.


yeah he'd been saving, he'd be saving
The singer's brother had been working hard and saving up his resources.


so much to have, but nothing gave
Despite all of his financial success, the brother did not seem to find anything truly fulfilling.


all put it up, now in his grave
The brother invested everything in his pursuit of wealth and success, but ultimately, it did not bring him happiness or long-term success. He is now dead and buried.


do you intend to pour your affection til you die
This line asks if you plan on investing so much of yourself in something that it will lead to your own destruction.


I don't want you wait
The singer doesn't want to see someone wait until it's too late to make the necessary changes.


not until your try
Rather, the artist hopes people will take action and try to create the change they want to see.


do you intend to (fake) your affection
This line questions if someone is willing to be insincere or disingenuous in their efforts to create change.


cause the tides telling you to wait
The artist suggests that people may be too passive, waiting for the 'tide' or circumstances to change before they take action.


not until the tide
This line reiterates the idea that people should be proactive and make changes themselves, rather than waiting for something external to change.


no more time to carry with you
This line suggests that there is no more time for procrastination or carrying around a burden.


tend to the sound of what you believe and
Pay attention to your own beliefs and convictions.


we can't, we can't all
This line is repeated several times and implies that not everyone will agree and be on the same page. We must learn to accept this and move forward.


when you were young
Looking back on a time when things seemed simpler and ideas were more innocent.


and there was fascination
Remembering the childlike wonder and curiosity that was present at that time.




Contributed by Olivia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Mad Hatter

LONG LIVE THE DODOS!

GraViTyAboVe

Geez this is a band for the gods

Jim Bengochea

This and is fast skating, cold breathe, fall leaves and warm hearts

Suweileh Price

ya it is man been listenen to them for so long now

GraViTyAboVe

Lol same here man, same here..