What does Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated mean?

Rise Against: Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated Meaning

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Album cover for Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated album cover

Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated Lyrics

So please don't ask me how
I ended up at my wits end
And breaking down
Pages torn from books we never read,
Cause we're plugged into this grid.
Don't pull this plug right now,
Or then we'd really have to live.

When I die, will they...

  1. CRL
    click a star to vote
    Jan 8th 2012 !⃝

    "When I die, will they remember not
    What I did, but what I haven't done?
    It's not the end that I fear with each breath
    It's life that scares me to death."

    This song is about the fear of failure, and how the singer is scared that, when he dies, he'll be remembered for the things he hadn't been able to do rather than things he had done.

    "When we built these dreams on sand
    How they all slipped through our hands
    This might be our only chance
    Let's take this one day at a time
    I'll hold your hand if you hold mine
    The time that we kill keeps us alive."

    He also talks about his fear that he might have lost the chance to achieve his dreams, or how he might only have one chance. He knows that he needs help in achieving those dreams as well.

    "We came in search of answers!
    We left empty handed again!
    Shots fired into the sky...
    Are now returning!
    Where the fuck will you hide?"

    "Hiding from the laughter in the closets of our lives,
    But the door hinges are squeaking letting in thin shards of light.
    And now a hand's extending outward,
    Quiet comfort they invite,
    Do we dare take what they offer?
    Do we step into the light?"

    The song's bridge speaks a bit differently, first about how the singer wants answers and how he never seems to get them. Then it changes to someone hiding from life because of fear.

    Overall it took me several listens to realize what this song means; it's surprisingly deep. It's also musically one of the best album-closers I've ever heard.

  2. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 15th 2011 !⃝

    The song is about a Mark Twain quote


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