Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Half Past Dead" by
Overkill are about a dark and violent world in which the protagonist lives. He feels like an outsider and considers his existence meaningless. The text plays with the motifs of death, pain, and destruction.
The protagonist feels useless and unfulfilled ("No wasted, No wanting the can't have, Untasted, Seems everything I have"). Although he has heard everything others have said, he remains strong and steadfast in his situation ("Yeah ready, Heard everything you said, I'm steady, Even though it's half past dead").
The text describes a world where pain and violence are omnipresent. The boundaries between good and evil are blurred, and people live in an inhumane environment ("Welcome to the unforgiving, Fraternity of pain where, The lines remains uncrossed, Are entertained"). The protagonist feels alienated from this world and longs for a better place ("Greetings from the other side, Where all has gone array here, But in all honesty takes me away, There").
The text conveys a sense of despair and destruction. The metaphor of Jerusalem in "saturated red" symbolizes bloodshed and violence. The protagonist sees a requiem ceremony begin, which takes place at half past dead ("Commencement of the requiem, Begins at half past dead").
The text emphasizes the brutality and violence of the world in which the protagonist lives. It describes a stage of madness where inhumane acts occur daily ("Welcome to the humiliating, Theater insane where, Our daily theme, Is always inhumane here"). The protagonist calls for rebuilding shattered castles and honoring fallen icons ("Rebuild your shattered castles, From ashes to the sky, Pick-up your fallen icons, Where they lie").
The text also emphasizes the hopelessness of the situation and the brutality of the world ("All eyes front and looking toward the sky, Better then I do, One step up if you're not afraid to die, Better then you do"). It is implied that violence and brutality are the only solution to survive ("Violent movement spawns brutality, Better then I do, Charging out into infinity, Better then you do").
The text ends with a longing for peace, which only comes after a long time ("Peace comes to the war inside my head, Better then I do, Peace comes late, the clock strikes, Half past dead"). The protagonist continues to struggle with his inner demons and hopes for an end to suffering.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Half Past Dead" describe a dystopian world where violence and destruction are omnipresent. The protagonist feels lost in this world and longs for peace and a better life, even though he knows it is difficult to achieve.