Hold my hand as I'm lowered
And please don't see me as a coward
For death, I do not forsake thee
Though your dark stare is always upon me

Well, I fell in love with a world in you
Well, I fell in love with a world in you

O Death, do not feel like the victor
'Cause my poor life makes you none the richer
Oh, your cold hands are clutching at cloth
I leave nothing on Earth that won't rot

Well, I fell in love with the world in you
Well, I fell in love with the world in you

Well, I fell in love with the world in you
And now I feel cold

Well, I fell in love with the world in you
And now I feel holier

Overall Meaning

The song "Hold My Hand As I'm Lowered" by Noah and the Whale is a powerful ballad about death and acceptance. The lyrics express the singer's fear of death and his plea for comfort as he faces his mortal end. The first verse begins with a request to hold the singer's hand as he is lowered, reassuring the belief that even though he is not strong enough to face death alone, he is not a coward. The fear of death is a common human sentiment, and it is shown here by the line "For death, I do not forsake thee, though your dark stare is always upon me."

The second verse speaks of the singer's love for the world and how he hopes that his life makes a difference, even in death. The lyrics "O Death, do not feel like the victor, 'cause my poor life makes you none the richer," convey the idea that even in death, the singer hopes to remain victorious. The lines "I leave nothing on Earth that won't rot" take on added meaning as they imply that all earthly possessions are meaningless and temporary.

The chorus is the most poignant part of the song. It repeats the refrain "Well, I fell in love with the world in you" three times, emphasizing the idea of finding love and meaning in the world, even as the singer is faced with death. The final lines, "And now I feel cold, and now I feel holier," are especially moving, as they convey the idea that death is both a painful and a sacred experience.

Overall, "Hold My Hand As I'm Lowered" is a beautiful and moving song that touches on the universal human experience of mortality, fear, and ultimately, acceptance.

Line by Line Meaning

Hold my hand as I'm lowered
As I descend into my grave, offer me your support and presence

And please don't see me as a coward
Don't judge me for my fear of death or my inability to escape it

For death, I do not forsake thee
Despite my fear, I accept that death is inevitable and unavoidable

Though your dark stare is always upon me
Death is constantly looming and watching, waiting for its opportunity

Well, I fell in love with a world in you
I found meaning and beauty in your presence and existence

O Death, do not feel like the victor
Even though Death will ultimately claim me, it has not won a true victory over my life

'Cause my poor life makes you none the richer
My death doesn't benefit Death in any tangible way

Oh, your cold hands are clutching at cloth
The physical manifestation of Death is cold and ominous, reaching out to claim me

I leave nothing on Earth that won't rot
In death, all material possessions or accomplishments are meaningless and will eventually decay

And now I feel cold
As I face Death, I feel physically and emotionally cold

And now I feel holier
My acceptance of death and my spiritual beliefs have given me a sense of sanctity or purity