Are you still lost tonight?
Living but dead inside
This is a proclamation
This is a call to rise

Are you abused, alone?
Walking with broken bones
If you feel you've been forgotten
Let this song guide you home

We are the disillusioned
We've been left wanting more
Before every aspiration hits the floor

[Chorus:]
Hold on for your life
All we feel is so far from alive
The damned are done believing
The cursed can dream no more
So hold on for your life
Because only the strong survive

The tell you what you should be
Sell you the plastic dream
Opinions are all provided
But nothing is what it seems

I dare you to take control
Cause empty are hands and
Bruised are the souls
Of those who show no resistance
Of those who are weak below

We are the disenchanted
Who die with each passing day
No one here understands us so I say

[Chorus]

How will it feel?
To live a lie until your dying day
Where nothing is real
As we sacrifice bending until we break
It's been revealed
Hold on for your life
Dreams are not theirs to take
Dreams are not theirs to take

[Chorus]

I said only the strong survive


Lyrics submitted by BillDogg2k, edited by PompeY2J

White Knuckles Lyrics as written by Myles Kennedy Mark Tremonti

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

White Knuckles song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

8 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think "Blackbird" is kind of a concept album. rise against all injustices, taking our rights in life and hope for better living are the concepts of most of its songs and "White Knuckles" got it all.

    it's absolutely my favorite song of Blackbird these days; and man, what a killing guitar riff! it has also awesome sub-layer guitar work you may not notice in the first times so it's getting better every time you listen to it.

    ColdenScenceon November 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Are you still lost tonight? Living but dead inside This is a proclamation This is a call to rise Are you abused, alone? Walking with broken bones If you feel you've been forgotten Let this song guide you home

    We are the disillusioned We've been left wanting more Before every aspiration hits the floor

    HOLD ON FOR YOUR LIFE ALL WE FEEL IS SO FAR FROM ALIVE THE DAMNED ARE DONE BELIEVING THE CURSED CAN DREAM NO MORE SO HOLD ON FOR YOUR LIFE BECAUSE ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

    They tell you what you should be Sell you the plastic dream Opinions are all provided But nothing is what it seems

    I dare you to take control Cause empty are hands and bruised are the souls Of those who show no resistance Of those who are weal below

    We are the disenchanted Who die with each passing day No one here understands us so I say

    Chorus

    How will it feel? To live a lie until your dying day Where nothing is real As we sacrifice bending until we break It's been revealed Hold on for your life reams are not theirs to take dreams are not theirs to take

    HOLD ON FOR YOUR LIFE ALL WE FEEL IS SO FAR FROM ALIVE THE DAMNED ARE DONE BELIEVING THE CURSED CAN DREAM NO MORE SO HOLD ON FOR YOUR LIFE BECAUSE ONLY THE STRONG I SAID ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

    This is from the lyrics included with the album.

    I guess he's singing about anticonformity. Do want you feel is right and not what other people tell you to do. Live out your dreams. Thinks might seem bad, but nobody can take your thoughts from you. Stick up for what you believe in.

    me77469on December 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think this song tells that nobody cares abt us n if u have lost your hopes let me inform u that its not over yet coz u can take your dreams coz dreams are not only for them who have achieved them.

    zohaibon January 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is fucking amazing. Just listen to how intesnse it is. The intensity of the song literally emobides the thoughbt of clenching "white knuckles" as you take control to chase your dreams, fuck the odds, fuck what anyone says against you. I especially love the part after he screams "hold on for your life" where the guitar plays plays one note, then the bass and drums pound out 4, then the guiter again, then the bass and drums, it's super heavy.

    Xactoon April 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is pretty much a giant middle finger to government, big business, "the man". It's saying that they are going to force you to do things, but you should just say no, control your own life, and be strong.

    jmann900on August 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Definitely one of my favorite Alter Bridge songs and one of the most intense songs I've ever heard. It's challenging people who feel lost, dead, abused, alone, empty, damned, cursed, etc. to find a strength inside themselves if they are to survive in this world. I think the purpose of the intensity of the music is to empower such people. As for this part:

    "They tell you what you should be Sell you the plastic dream Opinions are all provided But nothing is what it seems

    I dare you take control ’Cause empty are hands and Bruised are the souls Of those who show no resistance Those who are weak below",

    I think this is saying that the world tries to mold us into the people it wants and that we have to find the strength within ourselves to be who we want to be. Otherwise, we will fall to the world, if that makes sense.

    fireToSteel0423on October 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think its a really good song , and more like a prophecy !! Because , They tell you what you should be Sell you the plastic dream Opinions are all provided But nothing is what it seems

    Does this sound like the government ? yes it is. But its the NWO , "plastic dreams " is the RFID chips ! and the people that dont know the thruth , will say nothhing is what is seems ! its one of my favourite songs! And only the strong will survive.

    TheThruthHurtson November 18, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's my favourite Alter Bridge song. Whenever I am depressed and feel like I am lost, listening to this song gives me strength to move on. Because that's what it tells you to do. To hold on for your life. And it's so true that only the strong survive in this cruel world.

    We are the disillusioned We've been left wanting more We are the disenchanted

    We die with each passing day And no one here understands us

    This part gives me a comforting feeling cause I know that I am not the only one who feels lost, there are other people out there with the same feelings.

    It's all about discovering your inner strength so that you can happily survive in this world.

    rahul10000on December 30, 2014   Link

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

Album art
Show Me a Little Shame
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
He certainly did earn that reputation.
Album art
when rules change
Life in Your Way
High life
Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.