...So please don't ask me how
I ended up at my wits end and breaking down.
Pages torn from books we never read,
'Cause we're plugged into this grid.
Don't pull this plug right now,
Or then we really have to live.

[Pre-chorus]
When I die, will they remember not
What I did, but what I haven't done.
It's not the end, that I fear with each breathe.
It's life that scares me to death...

[Chorus]
When we built these dreams on sand,
How they all slipped through our hands.
And this might be our only chance.
Let's take this one day at a time,
I'll hold your hand if you hold mine.
The time that we kill keeps us alive.

Your words won't save me now.
I'm at the edge feeling the sweat drip from my brow.
Get a grip on yourself is what they say,
Every hour every day.
Hands over my ears,
I've been screaming all these years!

[Pre-chorus/Chorus]

[Bridge]
We came in search of answers!
We left empty handed again!
Shots fired into the sky...
Are now returning!
Where the fuck will you hide!
From the laughter in the closet, some alive
But the door hinges are squeaking letting in thin shards of light.
And now our hands extending outward,
Quiet comfort they invite,
And do we dare take what they offer?
Do we step into the light?

[Prechorus/Chorus]

[Chorus]



Lyrics submitted by RavenSan, edited by NoPride

Track duration: 04:14

"Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated" as written by Joseph Principe, Timothy Mcilrath, Brandon Barnes, Christopher Chasse

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Rumors Of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated song meanings
Add your thoughts

57 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:I have been really depressed before and seen other people look at me like "ah, that's too bad you'll never get anywhere like this" and I think this song is just Tim flipping the finger to those people. Like, hey, I'm not gone yet, I can still do something.
    Flag Peter01on May 03, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just realized one of my favorite songs titles is a line from halo reach O.o
    Flag bloodpixieon September 09, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:personally i believe it talks about children who grow up in a sheltered home life by their parents who just dont know how to let go and get out into life when the time comes. so when they finally do they just hit rock bottom. its about knowing that we need to be big boys/girls and start learning young so we can get up and soar from home nest when the time comes to be successful.
    Flag Frosty2130on November 16, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is one of the greatest Rise Against songs ever. But there are a lot of awesome songs, so I can't really say which one is the best. Rise Against is the shit. And a little tid bit of information, this song is titled after a quote by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemmings), the famous writer who was dead by rumor, but it was obviously false.
    Flag Roosieon August 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Coming from my stand point this is what the song means...
    I've been real depressed lately because I know there is a time to grow up. But when I see all these "grown ups" they look so crushed and defeated by "life" and I realize that they aren't trying to live life... they're trying to live as long as they can and I feel thats the message here. He says himself "It's not the end, that I fear with each breathe. It's life that scares me to death..." And i feel that really summarizes all those people that end up crushed by life.

    The fact is you reap what you sow... your shots fired come right back down... You have to spend your time alive truly LIVING, not just wasting away hiding in your closet from the light of a REAL life. People rather live a long life gathering as much as they can when they're just going to die without ever really having lived to begin with... building their dreams on sand and watching it slip through their hands...

    I feel like thats the general message... Live a life worth remembering... not one where you look back and say... "I wish I had taken the chances"
    Flag xMoscon July 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:its about how we all want to make something of our live and that something sometimes is calling us("From the laughter in the closet, some alive But the door hinges are squeeking letting in Thin shards of light. And now our hands extending outward,Quiet comfort they invite,And do we dare take what they offer?
    Do we step into the light?
    Flag genkarityon February 26, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:I believe this song means bite the bullet, suck it up, and don't give a shit what anyone says about it.
    Flag SOTYFTWon February 20, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Actually some other important facts IMO, are that
    1)I think in uTube after some songs the lead singer was really rumored to have commited suicide, so he makes laugh of that fact and says with this song that he hasn't still fulfilled his dreams in this life
    2)I think the bandmembers are immigrants or at least they are in support of such friends of theirs and in many songs they refer to them "came in search of answers" and got exploited and "left empty handed again"
    3)shots fired INTO the sky indeed, refering to not only politicians but all wrong the humankind has done till now and the time comes to face its mistakes (environment, morals, economy etc)
    4)DO WE DARE TAKE WHAT THEY OFFER? i think it's an accusation to some of the leftwing-oriented politically groups, who keep complaining and complaining and mourning about society but they do not have the will to take that few opportunities life has to offer to them to make it better (even if they pass from the hands and power of dirty-corrupted rich businessmen)
    Flag Selportionon January 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"When I die, will they remember not What I did, but what i haven't done?
    It's not the end, that I fear with each breath
    It's life that scares me to death..."

    The person in the song is either dying or thinking about death (probably dying). He isn't worried about dying, but more about how he will be remembered. What he has or hasn't accomplished.

    "When we built these dreams on sand, How they all slipped through our hands.
    And this might be our only chance. Let's take this one day at a time,
    I'll hold your hand if you hold mine. The time that we kill keeps us alive."

    This line may be another person telling the man that he shouldn't dwell on his life but to live it to the fullest and enjoy every moment (The time that we kill keeps us alive).

    "Your words won't save me now. I'm at the edge feeling the sweat drip from my brow.
    Get a grip on yourself is what they say, Every hour every day.
    Hands over my ears, I've been screaming all these years"

    Back to the man who is dying. He is telling his friend that it doesn't matter what they say it won't change his fate.

    "We came in search of answers. We left empty handed again.
    Shots fired from the sky Are now returning.
    Where the fuck will you hide?
    From the laughter in the closet, some alive
    But the door hinges are squeaking letting in Thin shards of light.
    And now our hands extending outward, Quiet comfort they invite,
    And do we dare take what they offer? Do we step into the light?"

    The man is wondering what his purpose in life was, what everyone's purpose in life is (We came in search of answers). He doesn't think he has fulfilled his duty or his purpose (We left empty handed again). Now he sees death approaching (Shots fired from the sky Are now returning. Where the fuck will you hide?). He wants to fulfill his purpose in life before he dies (do we dare take what they offer? Do we step into the light?).

    For anyone wondering "Why the characters?", listen to the song. The tone of the song changes between the first and second part of the chorus. The first part of the chorus is very negative, but the second part is positive telling the man not to worry about what he has or hasn't done.

    Flag Gr0v3ron January 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:could be one of their best songs.

    live life to the full, or you won't actually live it at all.

    thats what i get from this song.
    Flag nevergophobicon July 17, 2009   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!

Back to top
explain