Know something about this song or lyrics?
Add it to our wiki.
Dead as dead can be
The doctor tells me
But I just can't believe him
Ever the optimistic one
I'm sure of your ability to become
My perfect enemy
Wake up (why can't you)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Leaning over you here
Cold and catatonic
I catch a brief reflection
What you could and might have been
It's your right and your ability
To become my perfect enemy
Wake up (why can't you)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way [Repeat: x3]
You're better off this
You're better off this
Maybe you're better off
Wake up (why can't you)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll walk away and say
You fucking disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Go ahead and play dead
I know that you can hear this
Go ahead and play dead
Why can't you turn and face me [Repeat: x4]
You fucking disappoint me
Passive-aggressive bullshit [Repeat: x12]
The doctor tells me
But I just can't believe him
Ever the optimistic one
I'm sure of your ability to become
My perfect enemy
Wake up (why can't you)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Leaning over you here
Cold and catatonic
I catch a brief reflection
What you could and might have been
It's your right and your ability
To become my perfect enemy
Wake up (why can't you)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way [Repeat: x3]
You're better off this
You're better off this
Maybe you're better off
Wake up (why can't you)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll walk away and say
You fucking disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Go ahead and play dead
I know that you can hear this
Go ahead and play dead
Why can't you turn and face me [Repeat: x4]
You fucking disappoint me
Passive-aggressive bullshit [Repeat: x12]
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!
This song could possibly be about a person's reflection of something or someone that they had faith in.
"Dead as dead can be" The doctor tells me. - Basically the words and opinions of others based upon that person or thing can either never amount to anything or isn't worth going after or pursuing.
"But I just can't believe them" - despite all of the negativity whether it's true or not you don't pay them any heed.
"Never the optimistic one" - The person reflecting is either pessimistic by nature or a down-to-earth and practical person. They might be a little intrigued and confused as to why they have such strong faith in the person but nonetheless they do.
"I'm sure of your ability to become my perfect enemy" - Even though they realize that they may something to lose from it, they discard that reality to pursue it wholeheartedly.
"Wake up and face me, don't play dead" - the outcome seems to have turned out the way everyone else had said it would or unfavorably in general. The person reflecting put a lot of time and energy into them and never gave up on them but aren't accepting the aid, not taking it seriously, or pushing them away. The other person can't seem to accept any of it and can't bear to even look at them in the face or recognize them. The reflector points this out and they continue to "look the other way" either because they know they did something messed up, don't want the help, or just don't want to admit their mistake.
"Someday I will walk away and say "You disappoint me, maybe you're better off this way"". In the end despite the effort and faith put into it they fail and don't even seem to care and gives in to what everyone else has said. Tired and drained the person finally decides to leave them alone or the other person completely blocks them out.
The summary of the song lies in these lines.
The rest of the verses are self explanatory as the person goes on to say they know they are capable of so much but they can only show the path and the other person has to walk it. It's their choice basically.
The doctor is literally just a doctor. He is straightforward telling him communication is out of her control, and this being his mom, of course he doesn't want to believe it. The part about being his perfect enemy is pretty well documented if you listen to either APC or tool, His mothers faith renewed through her aneurysm is the fire that forged his philosophical views on religion and humanity.
The real emotion in this song is him just letting out all the frustration he feels toward her that she's plagued by this permanent disability, and his anger seeping out, despite the fact that this is his own mother, at her "high road" "passive aggressive bullshit" that she refuses to communicate these things with him.
The woman has finally realised what is going on, has reinforced her boundaries and moved out of the relationship. He's very angry that he isn't able to control her any more.
Another meaning could be that the woman is passive aggressive, she's silent, cold and playing dead in an attempt to control the man. He's getting more and more frustrated at her, her silence is pushing all his buttons and he's screaming at her to wake up and face him.
Yet another meaning could be that they are both passive aggressive and trying to control each other. They are both silent, cold and catatonic and the words that we hear are their thoughts.
The lyrics are a true masterpiece, explaining the internalised anger and controlling behaviour of a passive aggressive person.
Don't ever get into a relationship with a passive aggressive person, if you recognise the signs then run for the hills before they completely mess up your head and expect you to take responsibility for them.
PS I think the words "the doctor tells me" are a way of the person giving weight to their argument, reinforcing their opinion by referring to a professional.
I love the use of "maybe" and "someday", words that a PA person will use often.
BRILLIANT!!!
The first verse is about maybe a friend (the "doctor") saying that the person is "dead" or useless and depressed, and that Maynard should give up on the person. However, Maynard is "ever the optimistic one" and knows what the person "could and might have been". He still believes in the person at this point and wants to continue to help him even though the person won't "wake up and face [him]".
He continues to contemplate whether or not to leave the person when he repeats "maybe you're better off this way". Then Maynard says "you fuckin' disappoint me". I think that he is saying that he has given up on the person. At first, Maynard says the in explicate "you disappoint me" softly like he can still forgive the person and keep trying to help, but this time he yells it and is clearly upset to leave the person because he loves them and wants them to do well.
-The song is so powerful, and the climax after all the build up is truly amazing. I think the song is somewhat overlooked because of the arguably terrible album that it was released on. Passive will always be one of my favorite songs in the world.
“Dead as dead can be,” the doctor tells me
But I just can’t believe him, never the optimistic one
Why be optimistic that a person is dead. ^^
"It's your right and your ability
To become…my perfect enemy…"
Why would it be a persons right to be a perfect enemy? ^^
"Passive aggressive bullshit"
A person with cancer always knows there is a chance that the cancer will not die off, that it will return, and the threat is always going to be looming over a person who's had cancer growing inside of them. It's that fighting spirit saying, fuck you, come out if you're there. And If I'm lucky, I'll walk away from this, only disapointed that you didn't do me in, before I did you in.
It's that wild fighting spirit that keeps people alive when in turmoil like this. I love the whole attitude about it.
I catch a brief reflection of what you could and might have been
The tumor, and reflecting on what would have inevitably been death had it not been successfully removed.
Though fighting with them, them being your perfect enemy only IS because hope for 'recovery' still exists.
A person dying before you're done fighting the good fight leaves you frustrated, angry and empty.
What could have been if you'd been able to fight it out, and push them back on track?
Or maybe that would never have happened, and you'd have to turn your back and walk away eventually, because you got disappointed too many times over.
Maybe they are better off dead to spare everyone the hurt and pain of caring to see them change and it never happening.
Let's call the one in control of his body TOM and the supressed conciousness TODD.
TODD's begging TOM to not believe what the doctor is saying or he'll walk away, when you need him.
But he's hurt, and self aware, maybe TOM is better off without him...But that means he'll disappear.