It was the coldest night of the year
Snow-covered street lamps and Belvedere
The moon was just a sliver
The light was fading
The war was on its way
And we were waiting

You asked me how long I'd stay by your side
So I answered with only just one reply

Till the casket drops
Till my dying day
Till my heartbeat stops
Till my legs just break
Whoa whoa oh, whoa whoa oh, whoa whoa oh
Till the casket drops

A house made out of glass will surely shatter
So we built a fortress of red bricks and ladders
The ground it started shaking
The bombs are falling
We could've walked away
We had a warning

You asked me how long I'd stay by your side
So I answered with only just one reply

Till the casket drops
Till my dying day
Till my heartbeat stops
Till my legs just break
Whoa whoa oh, whoa whoa oh, whoa whoa oh
Till the casket drops

So lay your burden down baby
Lead me out the door
We can't escape this ricochet
I'm ready for this war

So lay your burden down baby
Lead me out the door
We can't escape this ricochet
I'm ready for this war

Till the casket drops
Till my dying day
Till my heartbeat stops
Till my legs just break

Till the casket drops
Till my dying day
Till my heartbeat stops
Till my legs just break
Whoa whoa oh, whoa whoa oh, whoa whoa oh
Till the casket drops

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of ZZ Ward's "Til the Casket Drops" are a powerful declaration of love and commitment, set against a backdrop of impending war and destruction. The first verse describes a cold, snowy night, with the moon barely visible and the war on its way. Despite the imminent danger, the singer and her partner are waiting together, and he asks her how long she'll stay by his side. Her response is simple and unwavering: "Till the casket drops," meaning until the end of their lives.

The second verse shifts the scene to a time of greater chaos, with bombs falling and the ground shaking. Again, the singer's commitment to her partner is unshakeable, and she insists that they can't walk away from the situation. Instead, she is ready for the coming war, as long as they face it together.

Throughout the song, the repeated refrain of "Till the casket drops" reinforces the theme of mortality and the idea that love endures even in the face of death. The images of war and destruction also underscore the sense of urgency and the need to appreciate every moment with the ones we love.

Overall, ZZ Ward's "Til the Casket Drops" is a powerful testament to the enduring power of love, even in the darkest of times.

Line by Line Meaning

It was the coldest night of the year
The night was frigid and wintry.

Snow-covered street lamps and Belvedere
The street lamps and Belvedere were covered in snow.

The moon was just a sliver
The moon was barely visible and in its crescent phase.

The light was fading
The visibility was diminishing and becoming darker.

The war was on its way
The conflict was approaching and imminent.

And we were waiting
We were anticipating and waiting for what was to come.

You asked me how long I'd stay by your side
You inquired about the duration of my loyalty to you.

So I answered with only just one reply
I responded with a single answer and no elaboration.

Till the casket drops
My devotion to you will last until the end of my life.

Till my dying day
My commitment to you will extend until I pass away.

Till my heartbeat stops
My devotion to you will last until my heart ceases to beat.

Till my legs just break
My loyalty to you will last until my physical strength fails me.

Whoa whoa oh, whoa whoa oh, whoa whoa oh
A musical interlude.

A house made out of glass will surely shatter
A fragile structure like a house made of glass is certain to break.

So we built a fortress of red bricks and ladders
We constructed a sturdy stronghold using red bricks and ladders.

The ground it started shaking
The earth began to tremble and vibrate.

The bombs are falling
Explosive devices are descending from the sky and exploding.

We could've walked away
We had the option to depart from the situation.

We had a warning
We were given prior notice of the impending danger.

So lay your burden down baby
Relax and let go of your troubles.

Lead me out the door
Guide me to the exit and we will leave together.

We can't escape this ricochet
We are unable to avoid the repercussion and backlash of the situation.

I'm ready for this war
I am prepared to face this battle and overcome it with you.

Till the casket drops
My loyalty to you will last until the end of my life.