Dead Cities
The Exploited Lyrics

The Exploited's "Dead Cities" is a punk rock anthem that captures the frustration and despair of living in a decaying urban landscape. The song opens with the singer expressing his pent-up aggression and desire to destroy the bourgeois symbol of television, which he sees as a mindless pacifier for the masses. The contrast is clear when he mocks those who choose to spend their Saturday nights glued to the screen while he is left feeling empty by the monotony of his life in the city. The chorus of "Dead cities dead cities" is a dirge-like repetition, highlighting the feeling of hopelessness and despair expressed in the song.

The second verse takes on a political edge, with the singer observing the oppression of the state through the electric chair execution of a prisoner. The brutal treatment of the inmate, who is stripped and beaten before his death, serves to underscore the bleak future ahead. The view of the city as a dead, lifeless place where one is trapped speaks to the sense of alienation and isolation that many punks felt amidst the decay of industrial Britain.

The final verse sees the singer creating his own subculture amidst the despair. He finds solace in getting drunk with his friends and enjoying the freedom of punk rock. The physicality of snarling, gobbing, and falling around is a vivid contrast to the passive acceptance of the TV watchers in the first verse. The singer is finally enjoying life, but it is a freedom within the confines of the city. Overall, "Dead Cities" is a song about frustration and anger, but also about finding a sense of community and personal expression within a decaying society.