Lifeless dead, that unclean bed
Till or when her hunger's fed
How he'd wished that they would wed
"I promise on our love" she said
Promises were never kept
Alone on dirty floor he slept
Yeah, lifeless dead
And although he'd not accept
She was gone and so he wept
Then a demon came to him
"You must know I'm gonna win"
Yeah, lifeless dead
He said, she said
She led him dead
He said we bled
She said not fed
Lifeless Dead, Lifeless Dead



Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death

Track duration: 04:27


Lifeless Dead song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song's about Unrequited Love.
    Flag dark_eyez_666on February 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Layne, Demri and the evils when you both are addicted to drugs and to each other
    Flag imisslayneon August 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think HB89 is right on the money.

    Part of Layne "died" when he separated from Demri.

    I don't know their entire story, but I know enough from the RS interview that they broke up before or around Tripod.

    According to the RS article on Layne's death, some insist that he gave up his fight with heroin once Demri died.
    Flag $p$on September 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:You pretty much hit it on the head, just like to add "Till or when her hunger's fed" does this mean until they relapse or until they're completely clean?
    Flag DJgifon June 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:"Lifeless dead, that unclean bed
    Till or when her hunger's fed"

    I believe Layne is referring to the fact that Demri and himself would not care enough to clean the bed during times they were going through withdrawal.

    "How he'd wished that they would wed
    'I promise on our love' she said"

    Layne really truly loved Demri, and wanted nothing more than to get married. Demri promised him that they would.

    "Promises were never kept
    Alone on dirty floor he slept"

    Unfortunately Demri and Layne both were struggling with their heavy heroin addiction. They never got married like Demri promised they would. They drifted apart, and Layne is now living alone, sleeping on a dirty floor.

    "And although he'd not accept
    She was gone and so he wept"

    Demri and Layne had drifted apart. Layne didn't want to accept it, and fell into a deep depression.

    "Then a demon came to him
    'You must know I'm gonna win.' "

    I believe the demon he is referring to is his heroin addiction. It has taken over him.

    "He said, she said
    She led him dead"

    I believe Layne is referring to the various arguments and reasons each of them had to part ways, and in a way, Layne feels that the breakup caused him to lose all hope for life, and to continue down a downward spiral with his addictions.

    "He said we bled
    She said not fed"

    I believe this is referring to Layne reminding Demri about all they have been through together, and then referring to the fact that Demri also said she felt those same things, but she never came through on any of their promises and plans.

    And to whoever suggested that it's impossible this is about Demri considering she died in '96, this song is not about her death, but about the fact that they had drifted apart and were no longer together at the time. They still remained friends however, and she still remained the love of his life.
    Flag horrorbusiness89on April 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Mad Season had such amazing chemistry.....I seriously doubt if another group could have helped Stanley pull of a Country hued song like river of deceit so beautifully... It's Such a Shame.......
    Flag N0 C0DE 79on May 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:And of course prophetically "Lifeless Dead" can be refered to Layne's dead body which was undisturbed for Two weeks before being discovered... You dont get more lifeless than already being dead...... I Wish Layne could have made it... John Baker Saunders the bassist for Mad season also OD'd on heroin in 1999....
    Flag N0 C0DE 79on May 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is not about Demri....it is understandable how it oculd be interpreted but it is impossible being as how it was released in 95 and demri died in october 96....

    That being said it is terrible how ironically prophetic this song is I think the most horrifying line had to be:

    Then a demon came to him
    "You must know I'm gonna win"

    The demon of course being heroin addiction and in the End it did win..... what a amazing song for that reason alone.....

    This song really can shoot down anyone's happy day.....
    Flag N0 C0DE 79on May 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yeah, love sucks, does that to people. (meaning makes/helps them give up) sometimes when you break up with someone you really love its like a part of you died. RIP Layne... you were truly, truly talented.
    Flag Angry Saron July 02, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i was just thinking...maybe it would've turned out different for layne, had demri not died. what if they got married...layne could've got clean, and still be writing poems and songs, and he would've kept writing and doin' his artwork. but he won't. and that is sad. rip layne
    layne, kurt, and shannon left a lot of fans behind.
    Flag TransparentSunChildon June 12, 2004   Link

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