DOA Lyrics
On our knees, we pray as we waste away
And we dig our grave, dead on arrival
[Verse 1: Joyner Lucas]
I close my eyes and contemplate on why I chose to be great
I find myself tryna escape from where I'm supposed to be safe
Or maybe I should pray like I'm supposed to be saved
Sometimes I feel like getting even, but I chose to behave
I'm mentally locked in a prison and I need bail
But the internet will kill me quicker than the streets will
And if that shit doesn't kill me, then the police will
Or maybe all the refills or the E pills or the lean will
I wish I was more flourished, I wish I had more courage
I feel like there's more purpose and maybe it's all worth it
I wanna keep on learning, but I couldn't be more nervous when I keep looking for answers
And I gotta keep on searching, the tables keep on turning
Tryna call up to Jesus, but the phone keep on ringing
I think I need more service, the calls seem more urgent
And all I see is more murders, the soldiers keep on serving
I wonder if it's all worth it, I wonder
[Chorus: Brian Burkheiser with Eric Vanlerberghe]
On our knees, we pray as we waste away
And we dig our grave, dead on arrival
In this mess we made, fill our lungs with hate
Just to numb the pain, dead on arrival
Dead on arrival
Dead on arrival
I can't breathe
Got my head on the guillotine
Slipknot around my neck, come and take a seat
Watch 'em bury me down 'til I'm six feet deep in the underground
Dead is the land of the free
Don't give, just take every time you need
Don't give, just take, though it's killing me
Don't give, just take every time you need
Don't give, just take
[Chorus: Brian Burkheiser with Eric Vanlerberghe]
On our knees, we pray as we waste away
And we dig our grave, dead on arrival
In this mess we made, fill our lungs with hate
Just to numb the pain, dead on arrival
Dead on arrival
Dead on arrival
I can't breathe
[Interlude: Brian Burkheiser]
Am I not worth saving?
Am I not worth saving?
[Bridge: Brian Burkheiser]
On our knees, we pray as we waste away
And we dig our grave, dead on arrival
In this mess we made, fill our lungs with hate
Just to numb the pain, dead on arrival
Yeah
Dead on arrival
Dead on arrival
Dead, dead, dead, dead
Dead, dead, dead, dead
About
“DOA” encompasses some of the horrible things that occurred in the world as of the song’s release: police abusing their powers and killing people who deserve trials, young people overdosing on drugs, and school shootings.
The original song is fittingly on I Prevail’s album titled Trauma that was released in March 2019. The remix to the song includes Joyner Lucas and was accompanied by a video that premiered on May 28. This premier comes following the death of George Floyd. Videos were posted of a police officer kneeling on George’s neck, while he was shouting that it hurt and that he couldn’t breathe. George ultimately died and riots broke out all over.
This song is calling out for change—the chorus says that we’re digging our own grave:
On our knees, we pray as we waste away
And we dig our grave, dead on arrival
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 14.Feel Something
- 15.DOA
