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Refused – Rather Be Dead (1996) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Refused
Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent
Rather Be Dead

TRACK

Rather Be Dead

Release date: 1996

From Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent

Track 1

3:14

Hard Rock Music Rock Alternative

Spotify Apple Music More on Refused

About This Track

'Rather Be Dead' by Refused is a hard rock track from the album 'Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent' (1996). Its lyrics are confrontational, laying out a choice of death over life under oppression and social control, with images of self-harm and bodily damage used to drive home the rejection. The repeated insistence on being “dead than alive” sharpens the intent, turning the song into a furious anti-conformist statement rather than a plea for sympathy.

"Rather Be Dead" is a track by Refused, from the album Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent, released 1996. The track is 3:14 long. It's filed under Hard Rock. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Refused.

About the Artist

Refused

Refused

Lyrics

Rather Be Dead

Rather be dead than alive by your oppression
Rather be dead than alive by your design
Poisoned my fingers
Burned out my eyes
Cut down my throat
To be alive
Rather be dead than alive by your social values
Rather be dead than alive by your tradition
Poisoned my fingers
Burned out my eyes
Cut down my throat
To be alive
Rather be alive
Rather be alive
Rather be alive
Rather be alive
Rather be alive
Rather be alive
Rather be
Rather be alive
Rather be alive
Rather be
Rather be alive
Rather be alive
Poisoned my fingers
Burned out my eyes
Cut down my throat

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent

3:141996

Listen

Album

Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent

Track number

1

Release year

1996

1Rather Be Dead
3:14
2Coup D'etat
2:41
3Hook, Line and Sinker
2:45
4Return to the Closet
3:49

More from Refused

Albums & EPs

The Malignant Fire - EP

The Malignant Fire - EP

War Music

Servants of Death - EP

Servants of Death - EP

Freedom (Deluxe Edition)

Freedom (Deluxe Edition)

Servants Of Death

Explore

More tracks by Refused

New Noise - IDLES Remix

MalfireThe Malignant Fire - EP

Jackals Can't Be Bothered To DreamThe Malignant Fire - EP

Born On the OutsThe Malignant Fire - EP

Organic Organic Organic (Go Fuck Yourself)The Malignant Fire - EP

Faceless Corporate ViolenceThe Malignant Fire - EP

Jackals Can’t Be Bothered to Dream

The Ballad of Buck Ravers

Economy of Death

Violent ReactionWar Music

Rev001War Music

Economy of DeathWar Music

The Infamous LeftWar Music

I Wanna Watch the World BurnWar Music

Blood RedWar Music

Death In VännäsWar Music

MalfireWar Music

Damaged IIIWar Music

Turn the CrossWar Music

Rev 001War Music

Never Fade Away

Tannhäuser / Derivé (Live)Servants of Death - EP

Thought Is Blood (Live)Servants of Death - EP

Dawkins Christ (Live)Servants of Death - EP

Stolen VoicesServants of Death - EP

The Shape of Punk to Come (Live)Servants of Death - EP

Servants of DeathServants of Death - EP

366Freedom (Deluxe Edition)

Stolen VoicesFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

Thought Is Blood (Live)Freedom (Deluxe Edition)

Old Friends / New WarFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

ElektraFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

FrançafriqueFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

Dawkins ChristFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

Destroy the ManFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

Servants of DeathFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

Useless EuropeansFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

Thought Is BloodFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

War on the PalacesFreedom (Deluxe Edition)

Shape Of Punk To Come (Live)Servants Of Death

Tannhäuser / Derivè (Live)Servants Of Death

Dawkins Christ (Live)Servants Of Death

Servants of DeathServants Of Death

Stolen VoicesServants Of Death

Thought Is Blood (Live)Servants Of Death

View all tracks by Refused →

Jackals Can’t Be Bothered to Dream
366Freedom (Deluxe Edition)
5:19
A Like Supreme
Archangel
Black Dog
Blood RedWar Music
3:39
Blood Red
3:42
Born On the OutsThe Malignant Fire - EP
3:35
Chippin’ In
Damaged IIIWar Music
3:08

Showing 10 of 50

If you like Refused

The (International) Noise Conspiracy

Snapcase

Snapcase

Quicksand

Quicksand

Gallows

Gallows

The Bronx

The Bronx

At the Drive-In

At the Drive-In

5Life Support Addiction

6It's Not Ok...

7Crusader of Hopelessness

8Worthless Is the Freedom Bought...

9This Trust Will Kill Again

11Last Minute Pointer

—It's Not O.K...

—Coup D’ètat

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: David Sandström, Dennis Lyxzén, Eskil Lövström, Jon Brännström, Kristofer Steen
Writer: Eskil Lövström
Producer: Pelle Gunnerfeldt

READ MORE ABOUT REFUSED

READ MORE ABOUT REFUSED

READ MORE ABOUT REFUSED

READ MORE ABOUT REFUSED

READ MORE ABOUT REFUSED

READ MORE ABOUT REFUSED

READ MORE ABOUT REFUSED

READ MORE ABOUT REFUSED

Refused have announced their final European and UK tour dates before disbanding

Refused have announced their final European and UK tour dates before disbanding

Swedish hardcore punk band Refused announce farewell tour across Europe and UK before ending their 33-year career.

31 Mar 2025 • 9:56 am

Refused - War Music

Refused - War Music

‘War Music’ is forged in the fire of live performance, and it shows.

17 Oct 2019 • 10:14 am

Refused: "it wasn’t like, ‘Oh my god, the Refused myth! We’ve gotta preserve it at all costs.’"

Refused: "it wasn’t like, ‘Oh my god, the Refused myth! We’ve gotta preserve it at all costs.’"

This week, Refused released their first album in seventeen years, ‘Freedom’. It’s a record that, by simply existing, creates division. When the band fir...

4 Jul 2015 • 10:03 am

Refused - Freedom

Refused - Freedom

★★★★

4 Jul 2015 • 7:35 am

Refused: Nothing has changed

Refused: Nothing has changed

IT MAY HAVE BEEN ALMOST TWO DECADES SINCE THE RELEASE OF THEIR ICONIC RECORD ‘THE SHAPE OF PUNK TO COME’, BUT NOW REFUSED ARE HERE TO SHOW EXACTLY WHY T...

31 Dec 1969 • 11:00 pm