In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
There's a movie playing in my head
Bombs falling and children crying
The Sunrise the sky turns Red
Load your guns tonight
There's a song playing down the hall
All alone there's an old man dying
I can't feel anything at all
Something isn't right
[Chorus]
This is a state of emergency
I've been running from a tragedy
There's a battle raging in my head
And I don't want to be left for dead
This is a state of emergency
Don't want to be another casualty
There's a cemetery in my head
And I don't want to be left for dead
There's a world standing in my way
Father said that I best stop trying
Stand down it will be OK
You don't have to fight
There's a picture hanging on the wall
Of a memory that I'm denying
The sun sets and the angels fall
Something isn't right
[Chorus]
No don't leave me here alone
I don't want to make this hell my home
I would rather die than sell my soul
I would rather lie than let you go
There's a voice screaming in my head
Telling me that I best stop crying
Stand up it will be OK
Load your guns tonight
[Chorus]
State of Emergency [Repeat: x3]
I don't wanna be left for dead
Left for Dead
Left for Dead
Bombs falling and children crying
The Sunrise the sky turns Red
Load your guns tonight
There's a song playing down the hall
All alone there's an old man dying
I can't feel anything at all
Something isn't right
[Chorus]
This is a state of emergency
I've been running from a tragedy
There's a battle raging in my head
And I don't want to be left for dead
This is a state of emergency
Don't want to be another casualty
There's a cemetery in my head
And I don't want to be left for dead
There's a world standing in my way
Father said that I best stop trying
Stand down it will be OK
You don't have to fight
There's a picture hanging on the wall
Of a memory that I'm denying
The sun sets and the angels fall
Something isn't right
[Chorus]
No don't leave me here alone
I don't want to make this hell my home
I would rather die than sell my soul
I would rather lie than let you go
There's a voice screaming in my head
Telling me that I best stop crying
Stand up it will be OK
Load your guns tonight
[Chorus]
State of Emergency [Repeat: x3]
I don't wanna be left for dead
Left for Dead
Left for Dead
Lyrics submitted by DefiantMark
State of Emergency Lyrics as written by James Michael Jacoby Shaddix
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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One small error: 'Don't want it to be another tragedy' should actually be: 'Don't wanna be another casualty' Otherwise, good job figuring out the lyrics!
On-topic: I think this could be another song about addiction, but then again it could also be about just being unhappy, or perhaps even about an actual war.
i think its about addiction or war. agreed with martinos
I think its neither war or drugs I think it is mental health "there's a battle raging in my head and I don't wannabe left for dead" it shows the ambivalent mind of the mental health suffer. It is the battle of personality vs neurosis. The person with mental disorder fighting the treatment due to the fact that they don't know who they will be once they are medicated. It is a state of emergency in their mind. But I guess its how you interpret it
I think it could be partially about the Bosnian War and its ethnic cleansing (If you don't know what ethnic cleansing is, it's genocide like the Holocaust and the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia was the first case of it in Europe since World War 2.) in the sense of the first part of the verse along with the "stand down it'll be okay, you don't have to fight" part. I have found this relatable to all of the wars being fought today. (i.e. ISIS, the Iraq War, fighting against the Taliban, etc.)