Raise The Dead
The Hollywood Vampires Lyrics

Hey you
The song begins with an addressing of the listener

The soul of rock'n'roll
Refers to the early days of rock and roll, its freedom and spirit

Was buried in a hole
Implies that rock and roll has lost its original essence

Yeah, you
The addressing of the listener continues

Can't you hear the beat?
The call to reconnect with the essence of rock and roll

Can't you feel the heat?
The call to reconnect with the passion and energy that rock and roll embodies

Cardiac heart attack
This line sets the tone for the idea of death in the song, both literal and figurative

Paint it black
Referencing The Rolling Stones song of the same name, this line implies that death is an unavoidable part of life

You know they never did the (reaper)
A reference to the Grim Reaper, the personification of death. The line implies that despite not being immortal, rock stars have a lasting legacy

Hey you
The addressing of the listener continues

They played the devil's (role)
Implies that rock stars were seen as rebellious and dangerous by society

They never lost their soul
Despite their reputation, this line implies that rock stars remained true to their musical identity

They only lost control
Implies that the wild lifestyle and fame of rock stars led to a loss of control and a connection to reality

So let's raise
The call to action of the song, to remember and celebrate the spirits of those who have passed

You gotta scream now
The call to action is amplified, the song is a loud and passionate tribute to the rock stars who have passed

So let's raise the dead
The central idea of the song, to remember and celebrate the legacies of the rock stars who have passed

Hey you
The addressing of the listener continues

The spirit in the ground
Refers to the idea that the legacy of rock stars is still present in the memories of their fans

Still makes an evil sound
The idea that the spirit of rock and roll is powerful and transcends societal norms

The creatures buried there
Referencing the graves of rock stars, this line implies that their legacy is still alive

Are coming up for air
Referencing the idea that the legacy of rock stars is present and growing

A sudden quick demise
Referring to the literal deaths of rock stars, the idea that they were larger than life but ultimately mortal

And so the body dies
Continuing the above thought, despite the mortal body, the legacy of the rock stars lives on

But the music stays alive
Rock and roll, and the legacy of those who have passed, lives on through the music they created

So let's raise the dead
Reinforcing the central idea of the song, to celebrate the memories and legacies of those who have passed

You gotta scream now
The call to action and celebration is amplified

Raise the dead
The central command of the song

You gotta dig a little deeper now
The call to connect with the essence of rock and roll and to understand the history of its spirit and legacy

Raise the dead
Reiterating the central command of the song

You gotta get a little creepy, yeah
The idea that to truly understand the history and legacy of rock and roll, one must embrace its darker and more subversive elements

So let's raise the dead
The final reiteration of the central idea of the song