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Change my attempt good intentions
Crouched over
You were not there
Living in fear
But signs were not really that scarce
Obvious tears
But I will not
Hide you through this I want you to help
And please see
The bleeding heart perched on my shirt
Die, withdraw
Hide in cold sweat
Quivering lips
Ignore remorse
Naming a kid, living wasteland
This time you've tried
All that you can turning you red
Change my attempt good intentions
Should I, could I
Here we are with your obsession
Should I, could I
Crowned hopeless
The article read living wasteland
This time you've tried
All that you can turning you red but I will not
Hide you through this
I want you to help
Change my attempt good intentions
Should I, could I
Here we are with your obsession
Should I, could I
Heave the silver hollow sliver
Piercing through another victim
Turn and tremble be judgmental
Ignorant to all the symbols
Blind the face with beauty paste
Eventually you'll one day know
Change my attempt good intentions
Limbs tied, skin tight
Self inflicted his perdition
Should I, could I
Change my attempt good intentions
Should I, could I
Should I, could I



Lyrics submitted by marxsux

Track duration: 03:50

"Wasteland" as written by Jesse Hasek, Ryan Johnson, Brian Vodinh, Matt Wantland

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Wasteland song meanings
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136 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I heard this song on the radio the other day and had forgotten how much I love it! I definitely think that on the surface, this song is about drug addiction. Really, though, it could apply to any self harming act (eating disorder, cutting, etc.)
    The cool thing about this song is that it comes from two different perspectives: the person who is suffering and the person who is attempting to comfort them. The line that really resonates with me is "Here we are with your obsession". In this phrase, the observer is trying to distance herself from the sufferer, only to realize that she is actually become more and more trapped herself.
    Flag 1metalgirlon April 18, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Not sure what its about, but when I was going through opiate withdrawl, I must have listened to it a 100 times. Fit so perfect. Heard it on radio the other day and still got the "taste".
    Flag chefgroovyon January 31, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Here's a bit from an interview that I found from unrated magazine (unratedmagazine.com/bios/…) with Jesse Hasek, I think it should answer some questions...

    "TIM: Cool. Can you tell me a little bit about the video-making process that I know you guys recently did for "Wasteland?"

    JESSE: Yeah, the first time around.We've been asked many times why did we do it over. The first time around we had less of a budget and it was just trying to get a video done and it didn't really represent the song the way we wanted it to. And, then we met up with Kevin Kerslake the second time around. He's done a bunch of Nirvana videos, Chili Peppers videos, Stone Temple Pilots videos. He's a great guy. He really has good vision. We explained to him what the content of the song was about. Which, is life and overcoming struggles and adversities and to make it through life as part of the growing process. And, we came to the conclusion that instead of showing teenage angst or the very typical cliché American video, we wanted to show the U.S. social awareness of the struggles that other countries go through - that other people go through and how easy we have it compared to their lives."

    Where he says "We explained to him what the content of the song was about. Which, is life and overcoming struggles and adversities and to make it through life as part of the growing process.", that answers it right there.
    Flag MaryMayhemon August 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Another theory could be that he's using the emotional experience of going through life as a drug addict as a metaphor or anecdote for the Iraq War at that time. Playing on the emotions with alot of play on words always makes for great, cryptic song.
    Flag JohnnyMontroseon May 01, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is actually about the actor Brad Renfro who was the lead singer's cousin. Brad Renfro was in "The Client" and "Tom and Huck" and some other movies. He struggled with heroin addiction for a long time before it finally took his life just like it does to so many other amazing people. Let's all start treating addiction like the disease it is and stop treating it like its a choice.
    Flag bleedeliciouscandyon October 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is obviously about heroin, shooting it up, and how he wants to change his attempt (his ways of life).
    Here we are with your obsession; talking about the drug.
    Heave the silver hollow sliver, Piercing through another victim, Limbs tied, Skin tight; is all talking about shooting it up.

    Flag Megalouon May 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:The meaning of the song seems to be clearly about the Middle East. Have you not seen the video? It shows clips from different places all around the Middle East. When it says "Heave the silver, hollow sliver, piercing through another victim" I'm pretty sure it's talking about a bullet - though there is a chance I'm very wrong, I do believe that is what it's talking about. The video is very elaborate about his feelings toward the middle east, types of slavery, and other things we, the people in American think are wrong because we don't condone them. And as 'Quiet Fury' states, he saw an interview that was discussing how the lead singer said that most of the band's songs are about their/his views on current events happening around the world. Also, it states, "The article read 'Living Wasteland'". That sounds like there could be an article, or a news clip about parts of the Middle East, claiming that it is a 'Living Wasteland' and with everything that is going on in the music video it looks like it very well could be just that.
    Flag xxnecromanceron April 16, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:First i thought this song was about heroin but after watching the official video (not the goldfish one) it obviously is about human trafficking and slavery.
    go here and watch youtube.com/…
    Flag HazardXHazeon September 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Heroin is not just a big adult drug kids get into it all the time. This song tells it from the addicted kid's point of view (feeling abandond labled as a wasteland) and who ever is trying to get the kid straight point of view.
    Flag Aeridaon July 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:h
    Flag spjunegirlon July 04, 2010   Link

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