Better off Dead
Embracing Life's Thorny Beauty: Elton John's 'Better off Dead' Reflections
Lyrics
There was a face on a hoarding that someone had drawn on
Observing a face drawn on a billboard or sign
And just enough time for the night to pass by without warning
A short amount of time for the night to pass unexpectedly
Away in the distance there's a blue flashing light
A distant blue flashing light indicating trouble
Someone's in trouble somewhere tonight
Suggesting someone is in trouble somewhere that night
As the flickering neon stands ready to fuse
Flickering neon lights ready to fail
The wind blows away all of yesterday's news
Wind clearing away the news of the past
Well they've locked up their daughters and they battened the hatches
Precautions taken, locking up daughters and securing hatches
They always could find us but they never could catch us
Difficulty catching the speaker and their companions
Through the grease streaked window of an all night cafe
Observing events from a greasy window in a cafe
We watched the arrested get taken away
Watching arrests unfold outside the cafe
And that cigarette haze has ecology beat
Cigarette smoke causing environmental harm
As the whores and the drunks file in from the street
People involved in undesirable activities entering from the street
'Cause the steam's in the boiler, the coal's in the fire
Metaphorically, everything is set for action or events
If you ask how I am, then I'll just say inspired
Feeling inspired when asked about well-being
If the thorn of a rose, is the thorn in your side
Suggesting that challenges are an integral part of life
Then you're better off dead, if you haven't yet died
If challenges persist, life may not be worth living
'Cause the steam's in the boiler, the coal's in the fire
Repeating the earlier metaphorical setup for action or events
If you ask how I am, then I'll just say inspired
Consistent feeling of inspiration when asked about well-being
If the thorn of a rose, is the thorn in your side
Reiteration of challenges being an integral part of life
Then you're better off dead, if you haven't yet died
Reiteration of the idea that life may not be worth living with persistent challenges
Better off dead, better off dead, better off dead
Continuation of the repetition, underlining the theme
Better off dead, better off dead, better off dead
Continuation of the repetition, reinforcing the idea
Better off dead, better of dead
Final repetition, concluding the song with the theme
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