Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
He's had enough
He couldn't take anymore
He found a place in his mind
And slammed the door
No matter how they tried
They couldn't understand
They washed and dressed him
Fed him by hand
Yeah! I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Withdrawn he sat there
Staring into space
No sign of life
Would flicker on his face
Until one day he smiled
It seemed as though with pride
The wind kissed him goodbye
And then he died
Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for livin' in
Yeah I will start again
It can take forever, and ever whatever, whenever, but I'll still win
How many like him
Are they still
Who to us all
Seem to have lost the will
They lie in thousands
Lank and lost
Is knowledge worth this bitter cost
Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for living in
Beyond the realms of death
He couldn't take anymore
He found a place in his mind
And slammed the door
No matter how they tried
They couldn't understand
They washed and dressed him
Fed him by hand
Yeah! I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Withdrawn he sat there
Staring into space
No sign of life
Would flicker on his face
Until one day he smiled
It seemed as though with pride
The wind kissed him goodbye
And then he died
Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for livin' in
Yeah I will start again
It can take forever, and ever whatever, whenever, but I'll still win
How many like him
Are they still
Who to us all
Seem to have lost the will
They lie in thousands
Lank and lost
Is knowledge worth this bitter cost
Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for living in
Beyond the realms of death
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Step
Ministry
Ministry
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Beautiful song. One of Priest's best. This song is about a person who is tired of life and the world around him. He goes in to a sort of coma "Withdrawn he'd sit there, stare blank into space, no sign of life would flicker on his face". No one can reach him, no one can save him, he is in his own world, where he is safe.
If I remember correctly, back in the 80's two kids in Reno attempted suicide and the one that lived said something about this song inspiring them to do it. I think there was even a court case involving Judas Priest.
It's been like 8 years since you posted your comment, but I believe the song in question was Better You, Better Me. About the song Beyond the Realm of Death, I also think is a beautiful song. It was the song that got me to take a more serious listen to Priest. I used to draw their insignia on my school notebooks, but never really cared for them until I was an adult. I always imagined this song to be about Rob's gay lover who was dying of AIDS. I have no clue, but it was the topic of the day when this song came out.
It's been like 8 years since you posted your comment, but I believe the song in question was Better You, Better Me. About the song Beyond the Realm of Death, I also think is a beautiful song. It was the song that got me to take a more serious listen to Priest. I used to draw their insignia on my school notebooks, but never really cared for them until I was an adult. I always imagined this song to be about Rob's gay lover who was dying of AIDS. I have no clue, but it was the topic of the day when this song came out.
Nice description. While I don't remember the 80s controversy (I little high I was) the song has spoken to me since its release and is absolutely incredible. Thanks for posting<br />
Hello friends, This is not the song that dragged Priest into the suicide controversy; that is Better by you, better than me from the Stained Class album
backmaskonline.com/hardrock.html
There's the site that has what you are talking about.
this song brung me to tears the first time I heard, it, its such a beutiful song, the guitar solo is one of the best ive heard.
And yeah its about suicide.
brung you?lol i never heard of hat word.isntt that suppossed to be.brought.
Well idk about the song making me cry but it is a bad ass song. Judas Priest is one of the best bands that was in there time.
This is one of JPs controversial suicide songs, a haunting and relevant debate about the right to choose whether to live or die. I too really love the guitar solo and the gorgeous lyrics. Still one of my faves!
Excellent song; to my mind at least, it may well be the inspiration for "One" by Metallica, both lyrically and musically.
Beautiful, and haunting. It's pretty straight forward in it's meaning, an apperently ill person is tired of life and just gives up(possibly kills himself). The guitar solo speaks volumes, and is one of the all time great solos.
This is just such an amazing song. It is like, Judas Priest's stairway to heaven and i can't believe there are this few comments. Rob Halford has such a briliant voice and the solo is great.
And, if you play it, it is very similar to Metallica's "One". It must have een the inspiration for "One", they are very similar guitar parts.
This song is about a person who is tired of the screwed up society we've created on Earth. He decides not to function in it anymore.
"Keep the world with all its sin It's not fit for livin' in Yeah! I will start again It can take forever, and ever, and ever And ever, but I'll still win."
The movie "Brazil" with Jonathan Pryce ends on a very similar note as the hero refuses to be conquered by the Secret Police and instead creates his own "reality" inside his head.
Awesome, epic song. Priest is the best and this song makes it obvious why.
How do you take one stanza out of a song and decide what it means from that? Listen to the rest...