Lay My Burden Down
Alison Krauss & Union Station Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gonna lay my burden down
Lay my body in the ground
Cold clay against my skin
But I don't care at all

Can't seem to find my piece of mind
So with the earth I'll lay entwined
Six feet underground
My feet are warm and dry

When I get to the other side
I'll put your picture way up high
But I'm not coming back to you
It's just too far

If I was cast off on the sea
Would you come and look for me
Or would you just let me sink
Beneath the waves so blue

What if I had learned to fly
Fly all night till day drew nigh
Touch down upon a branch and
Scan the crowd for you

When I touch my feet on the land
I'll kiss your lips and take you in
But you know I'm not here to stay
It's just too far

Darling can't you hear me cry
My bones are broke
My tongue is tied
The moon is swaying back and forth
Against the navy sky
Is all I can see
My body is trembling on my knees
Just have a little mercy on me
Run away and hide

When I sleep the angels sing
But I cannot hear a thing
Eyes close
Dreaming of the better days gone by

When I wake the trumpets play
And I'm standing at the gates
Fall down and joy
I know my race has just been won

When I was young my momma would say
Well life is hard, but that's O.K.
If you can make it through the day




It's not that far
No, it's not that far

Overall Meaning

The song Lay My Burden Down offered by Alison Krauss & Union Station tells a tale of surrendering oneself to the beyond, for it symbolizes the end of an arduous journey through life. The first stanza connotes a distinct message of yielding one's troubles and laying their body to rest in the ground. Death, in this sense, is a welcomed escape from the struggles of life. The notion continues in the second stanza, revealing how the singer is entwined with the earth in his grave, 'six feet underground.' However, he does not seem to distress of the idea of death, for he knows his feet would be warm and dry, implying eternal peace.


In the final stanza, the singer fantasizes about the afterlife, calling to his beloved to receive him on the other side. He assures her he will not come back, for the distance is too far. The following lyrics present a more anguished perspective of the singer, asking if his beloved will save him if he was 'cast off on the sea,' or would she 'just let me sink beneath the waves so blue.' He further ruminate on the ‘What ifs' of life, posing questions on whether his beloved would come for him if he 'had learned to fly' and scanned the crowd for her. He ends the verse by stating he is not here to stay, elucidating that his time on earth is only temporary.


Line by Line Meaning

Gonna lay my burden down
I'm finally going to be free from my troubles and worries.


Lay my body in the ground
I'll find rest by burying my physical form in the earth.


Cold clay against my skin
The sensation of the wet and compact soil touching my flesh.


But I don't care at all
I'm at peace with the idea of death.


Can't seem to find my piece of mind
I'm struggling to find inner peace and contentment.


So with the earth I'll lay entwined
I'm seeking solace through death and the earth will comfort me in this resting place.


Six feet underground
The depth at which I'll be buried in the earth.


My feet are warm and dry
Despite being buried deep, I am still in a state of peace and warmth.


When I get to the other side
Referring to the afterlife.


I'll put your picture way up high
I'll remember you fondly in the afterlife.


But I'm not coming back to you
I won't return to the living world once I move on.


It's just too far
The distance between life and the afterlife is too great to be crossed.


If I was cast off on the sea
Imagining being lost and abandoned at sea.


Would you come and look for me
Wondering if loved ones would search for and rescue me.


Or would you just let me sink
Questioning the loyalty of loved ones to help in times of need.


Beneath the waves so blue
Visual imagery of drowning in the endless blue ocean.


What if I had learned to fly
Imagining the freedom of flight.


Fly all night till day drew nigh
The idea of flying through the night, waiting for the new day to come.


Touch down upon a branch and
Landing on a tree branch after flying.


Scan the crowd for you
Searching for loved ones amongst the crowd.


When I touch my feet on the land
The sensation of returning to dry land after being airborne.


I'll kiss your lips and take you in
Reuniting with loved ones upon returning to earth.


But you know I'm not here to stay
The realization that death is imminent and that the reunion is temporary.


It's just too far
Stressing the distance between the living world and the afterlife.


Darling can't you hear me cry
Desperately calling out for attention and help.


My bones are broke
Physical pain and injury.


My tongue is tied
Feeling incapable of effective communication or expression.


The moon is swaying back and forth
Visual imagery of the moon moving in the night sky.


Against the navy sky
Describing the color of the sky at night.


Is all I can see
Being in a state of physical and emotional pain and blindness to everything else.


My body is trembling on my knees
Physical tremors due to fear or pain.


Just have a little mercy on me
Begging for compassion from others.


Run away and hide
Feeling completely overwhelmed and in need of escape.


When I sleep the angels sing
The comfort and peace felt in sleep.


But I cannot hear a thing
Experiencing a state of unconsciousness.


Eyes close
Physical description of closing one's eyes in sleep.


Dreaming of the better days gone by
Imagining the golden days of the past.


When I wake the trumpets play
Imagining being called to the afterlife with trumpets.


And I'm standing at the gates
Visualizing being at the entrance of the afterlife.


Fall down and joy
Feeling jubilant and overwhelmed by emotions.


I know my race has just been won
Celebrating victory over the struggles of life.


When I was young my momma would say
Call back to advice received in the past from a loved one.


Well life is hard, but that's O.K.
Accepting the difficulties and challenges of life.


If you can make it through the day
Encouragement to persevere and look towards the future.


It's not that far
Despite the struggles of life, there is still hope that things will get better and that there is a better future waiting.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Aoife O'Donovan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@wesbittick4567

This lady has come along way on her own over the years . Very talented .

@douglasarmstrong2748

Another wonderful song from a great album. This was also so well done on her appearance on Transatlantic Sessions. Just so enjoyable from Alison and the extraordinarily talented band that make up Union Station. I hope they get together for another album soon.

@smontgomery4644

Allison has the most beautiful unique voice ever ..We love you 💞

@TimothyFrye-sd2ki

Wonderful tune from the heart and soul of the most beautiful artist in country music.

@MrSteve280

The musical icing on the cake of a good movie

@udsmall7306

Percy brought me here.
🎙️🎙️⬆️🏜️/🛐.
Good Lord up above Alison has a bell clear perfect tone that melts my soul. 🫠🎙️🥰😍
What a gorgeous voice ugh 🫠🎙️

@ebaristogringo

@milesunderwood2380

🙏❤️🌹

@irpacynot

😽

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