• Brett Detar - vocals, guitars
• Chad Alan - bass, backing vocals
• Joshua Fiedler - guitars
• Joshua Kosker - guitars, backing vocals
• Josh Walters - drums
DTM
The Juliana Theory Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My diamond in the rough
I always thought that it would be so easy
Let it out
It's never like you were so empty
And tired
And I can hardly take it here
As tired as I am
With everything I can
I won't give up again
Wake me up
My inspiration seems
My mind is like a prison bound to hold me
Force it out
The damage has been done
We're broken, departed
And we can hardly spend it here
I won't give up again
As tired as I am
With everything I can
I won't give up again
I won't give up again
With thoughts of indecision
Destroyed my ambition
We'll lose the last position
I stand alone
I won't give up again
I won't give up again
I won't give up again
I won't give up again
Hold it out
Your candle in the dark
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger they say
Let it go
It's time to tell them so
You're older and wiser
And you can hardly breathe it here
I won't give up again
As tired as I am
With everything I can
I won't give up again
I won't give up again
As tired as I am
With everything I can
I won't give up again
I won't give up again
The Juliana Theory's song DTM is a powerful and emotional track that speaks to the struggles of perseverance and the will to overcome despair. The opening line "hold it up, my diamond in the rough" suggests that the singer is addressing someone or something that holds great potential but is not yet fully realized. The following lines "I always thought that it would be so easy, let it out, it's never like you were so empty and tired" portray the frustration and disappointment that come from seeing that potential go to waste. The singer is urging this person or thing to release their full potential, saying "force it out, the damage has been done, we're broken, departed, and we can hardly spend it here" - suggesting that they are at a low point and need to rise above it.
The chorus, "I won't give up again, as tired as I am, with everything I can, I won't give up again" articulates the overarching theme of the song - the idea of resilience and determination. The singer is acknowledging that they have been tired and beaten down before, but they refuse to let that defeat them. This determination is echoed in the verse "wake me up, my inspiration seems, my mind is like a prison bound to hold me" - the singer recognizes that they need a wake up call to reignite their inspiration and get them out of their mental rut.
The third verse "with thoughts of indecision, destroyed my ambition, we'll lose the last position, I stand alone" paints a picture of someone who has been mired in doubt and uncertainty, but who is fighting to overcome it. The final verse "hold it out, your candle in the dark, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger they say, let it go, it's time to tell them so, you're older and wiser and you can hardly breathe it here" speaks to the idea that strength and growth come from adversity, and that it's time to move on from the struggles of the past and embrace the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold it up
I want to keep this special thing close to me.
My diamond in the rough
This thing I'm holding up may not be perfect, but it's precious to me.
I always thought that it would be so easy
I used to think that life would be easy, but it's turned out to be much harder than I anticipated.
Let it out
I need to express what's inside of me and not keep it bottled up any longer.
It's never like you were so empty
I thought I was empty, but it turns out that there was always something inside of me that I needed to let out.
And tired
I'm exhausted from keeping this thing inside for so long.
And I can hardly take it here
I'm at my breaking point and need to release this thing before it becomes too much to bear.
Wake me up
I need something to jolt me out of my current state of mind and inspire me to take action.
My inspiration seems
I've lost the thing that used to inspire me and help me see the world in a different way.
My mind is like a prison bound to hold me
My own thoughts and fears have trapped me and are keeping me from progressing and growing.
Force it out
I need to actively remove the negative thoughts and feelings that are holding me back.
The damage has been done
I can't undo what has already been done, but I can start on a new path forward.
We're broken, departed
Something that used to be whole and connected has fallen apart and now we're separate entities.
And we can hardly spend it here
We're struggling to exist in this current state and need to move on to something better.
With thoughts of indecision
I'm uncertain about my next steps and hesitant to make any moves.
Destroyed my ambition
My lack of decisiveness and fear has led me to lose sight of my goals and lose motivation.
We'll lose the last position
If we don't take action soon, we'll fall behind and lose ground to others who are moving forward.
I stand alone
I'm taking this journey on my own, without anyone else to support me.
Hold it out
Show the world what you've got and don't be afraid to showcase your talents and gifts.
Your candle in the dark
This thing you're holding out can be a light to guide you and others through difficult times.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger they say
Even though this process may be trying and difficult, it will ultimately make us stronger and more resilient.
Let it go
Release any doubts or fears that are holding you back and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead.
It's time to tell them so
Let others know what you're capable of and share your vision for the future.
You're older and wiser
Through this journey, you've gained more knowledge and insight that can propel you forward.
And you can hardly breathe it here
The current circumstances are suffocating and unbearable, so it's time to move on to something better.
I won't give up again
Despite the challenges and setbacks, I will persevere and keep moving forward.
As tired as I am
Even though I'm exhausted from this journey, I won't give up.
With everything I can
I will give this everything I've got and hold nothing back.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind