This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Rain forever, darkened skies
Hopeless is a way of life out here
No one ever sees the sun, got a future on the run in fear
The walking dead they lurk the streets
The whores and damaged industry of night
Morbidly they carry on
No one's home, the lights are on
This place is where death comes to die
We're living here in Dead City
We're living here in Dead City
Eternal gray and soaking wet
The homeless man has paid his debt to her
Mother Nature held the cards
The river feeds but not to ours, you'll learn
The monster of the corporate world
Destroyed the dream, the every man in sight
No one's home, the lights are on
This place is where death comes to die
We're living here in Dead City
We're living here in Dead City
It's the end of everything we knew
Dreams are gone the monster stole them too
This is not the place that I once knew
It's the end, in front of you
It's the end of everything it's true
There's no way of living in this place
A slow slow death staring you in the face
We're living here in Dead City
We're living here in Dead City
We're living here in Dead City
Don't want to die in Dead City
Hopeless is a way of life out here
No one ever sees the sun, got a future on the run in fear
The walking dead they lurk the streets
The whores and damaged industry of night
Morbidly they carry on
No one's home, the lights are on
This place is where death comes to die
We're living here in Dead City
We're living here in Dead City
Eternal gray and soaking wet
The homeless man has paid his debt to her
Mother Nature held the cards
The river feeds but not to ours, you'll learn
The monster of the corporate world
Destroyed the dream, the every man in sight
No one's home, the lights are on
This place is where death comes to die
We're living here in Dead City
We're living here in Dead City
It's the end of everything we knew
Dreams are gone the monster stole them too
This is not the place that I once knew
It's the end, in front of you
It's the end of everything it's true
There's no way of living in this place
A slow slow death staring you in the face
We're living here in Dead City
We're living here in Dead City
We're living here in Dead City
Don't want to die in Dead City
Lyrics submitted by Kingofstilport
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Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
The song is a bleak viewpoint of society, talking of a bleak and desolate city characterized by constant rain, and dark skies, and living in fear has become the norm where no one ever sees the sun. It portrays a place where the walking dead roam the streets, symbolizing a population that is emotionally dead or numb. The dead city is a result of an oppressive and corrupt system. Corporate greed and exploitation have destroyed the dreams and livelihoods of the people while also betraying Mother Nature. Overall, it stands as a blatant commentary on the dehumanizing effects of a corrupt system, where individuals are stripped of their dreams and hope, resigning themselves to a life of living death in a decaying environment.
Kurdt Vanderhoof stated in an interview that “Dead City” is about the condition of the town he grew up in. It’s very much a good representation of what it’s like in any small American town these days after Walmart moves in and destroys the local businessman.