What The Dead Men Say

Bassist Paolo Gregoletto wrote the bulk of the lyrics and much of the music on What the Dead Men Say. He purloined the name of the title track from a science fiction short story by American author Philip K. Dick, first published in Worlds of Tomorrow magazine in June 1964. Gregoletto explained to Apple Music: "I felt like the words I was coming up with were about this sci-fi, trippy type of in-between state and the way we deal with death and grieving in the digital age. I've always loved Philip K. Dick books and stories because a lot of them are still really relevant and ahead of their time. So I found this short story and I liked the title a lot - it was really intriguing. I think some of the best titles and lyrics are stuff you can't totally explain." As Gregoletto started thinking about where he could go with the theme, he came up with a song that "maps out being in between a state of life and death. You don't really know what side you're on. It goes through a 360-degree journey of emotions."

Regarding the writing process behind the song, Gregoletto revealed the song started off as two separate demos but emerged from the writing session as one epic tune.

Philip K. Dick's stories have been adapted into such blockbuster films as Blade Runner, Minority Report and Total Recall. Other songs inspired by the work of the sci-fi writer include "X-Ray Visions" by Clutch and "Enemy Gene" by Of Montreal.