As The Footsteps Die Out For
Catch 22 Lyrics


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She was diagnosed on a Friday, the kids were almost home, the kids were on their way back home from school, lying face down in the gutter of unaccomplished dreams and broken memories of things to come, "Sorry ma'am, I really am. I had to break the news. I had to make the phone call to tell you that you're due, you know where, I'll tell you when, and I suggest you start living these next three weeks, the best way that you can." Every night for three long weeks, she'd roam the hallways half asleep and as the footsteps fade away in my mind, I could swear, I could swear, I heard her say: Don't wait for me, I've got a lot to do I've got a lot to be and in the end maybe I'll see you there. Lost her strength on a saturday. Spent the day in bed. Yeah, I'm fine, it's just the flu she said with a smile, but when they turned their backs, the tears would flow. She knew she only had a while to live to breathe to see to be to bleed to stand on her own two weakened feet "and so I pray everyday: don't take my mother away" and in the end maybe i'll see you there. You know i'll see you there and in the end i'll see you there.




Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Catch 22's song 'As The Footsteps Die Out Forever' tell a heartbreaking story of a mother who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and only has three weeks left to live. The opening lines paint a bleak picture of the situation as the kids are on their way back home from school to find their mother lying face down in the gutter. The doctor delivers the news and advises her to make the most of her time left. The sense of desperation is palpable as she roams the hallways half asleep every night for three weeks.


The second verse is just as heart-wrenching as the first. The mother lies in bed, weak and fragile, trying to put on a brave face for her loved ones, but unable to hold back her tears when they turn their backs. She knows that time is running out, and she has a lot she wants to do and be before it's over. The line "and so I pray every day: don't take my mother away" highlights the pain that her loved ones are feeling and the sense of helplessness they must be experiencing. The final line, "and in the end maybe I'll see you there," suggests a glimmer of hope that the family will be reunited after death.


Overall, the lyrics of 'As The Footsteps Die Out Forever' are a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of making the most of the time we have with our loved ones.


Line by Line Meaning

She was diagnosed on a Friday, the kids were almost home
On a Friday, the singer received news of her illness just as her children were about to return from school.


the kids were on their way back home from school,
At that moment, her children were making their way home from school.


lying face down in the gutter of unaccomplished dreams and broken memories of things to come,
The singer was overwhelmed by a sense of failure and disappointment; her hopes and dreams lying shattered before her.


"Sorry ma'am, I really am. I had to break the news.
The bearer of bad news expressed genuine remorse for burdening the artist with such difficult news.


I had to make the phone call to tell you that you're due, you know where, I'll tell you when, and I suggest you start living these next three weeks, the best way that you can."
The news was of a terminal diagnosis and the artist had only three weeks to live, a time in which she was encouraged to make the most of her remaining days.


Every night for three long weeks, she'd roam the hallways half asleep and as the footsteps fade away in my mind,
During the three-week period, the singer spent restless nights, her mind in turmoil, trying to make the most of her remaining time.


I could swear, I could swear, I heard her say: Don't wait for me, I've got a lot to do
In her mind, the singer spoke words of comfort to her loved ones, urging them to go on without her and not to dwell on her absence.


I've got a lot to be and in the end maybe I'll see you there.
She expressed a desire to live life to the fullest in her remaining time and looked forward to a reunion with her loved ones in the afterlife.


Lost her strength on a saturday. Spent the day in bed.
The artist weakened and became incapacitated on a Saturday, and spent the day in bed.


Yeah, I'm fine, it's just the flu she said with a smile, but when they turned their backs, the tears would flow.
The artist put on a brave front and tried to hide her true emotions, but would cry when alone.


She knew she only had a while to live to breathe to see to be to bleed to stand on her own two weakened feet
She knew that her time was limited and she wanted to experience as much of life as possible before the end.


"and so I pray everyday: don't take my mother away"
Her loved ones prayed to keep her safe from harm and hoped for a miraculous recovery.


and in the end maybe i'll see you there. You know i'll see you there and in the end i'll see you there.
The singer expressed a belief in an afterlife and looked forward to reuniting with her loved ones.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Thurat

She was diagnosed on a Friday,
The kids were almost home,
The kids were on their way back home from school,
Lying face down in the gutter
Of unaccomplished dreams and broken memories of things to come,
"Sorry ma'am, I really am. I had to break the news.
I had to make the phone call to tell you that you're due,
You know where,
I'll tell you when,
And I suggest you start living these next three weeks, the best way that you can."
Every night for three long weeks,
She'd roam the hallways half asleep
And as the footsteps fade away
In my mind, I could swear, I could swear, I heard her say:
"Don't wait for me,
I've got a lot to do
I've got a lot to be
And in the end maybe I'll see you there."
Lost her strength on a saturday.
Spent the day in bed.
Yeah, I'm fine, it's just the flu she said
With a smile, but when they turned their backs,
The tears would flow.
She knew she only
Had a while to live
To breathe
To see
To be
To bleed
To stand on her own two weakened feet
"and so I pray everyday: don't take my mother away"
and in the end maybe I'll see you there.
You know I'll see you there
And in the end I'll see you there.



All comments from YouTube:

Ryan Pfeiffer

the older I get, the more this song makes my eyes sweat

Devin Bello

Ryan Pfeiffer hertz domut

velvetjones666

My eyes are sweating right now. Yes, sweating. That's what I'll call it.

Alex Pitl

I'm thirty. Used to love this band (still do it turns out), and recently I downloaded Spotify to jog. I kinda had an idea what the song was about when I was younger, but for some reason never made out that first line... Man... So sad.

Robert Madej

+Ryan Pfeiffer
This shit got me through some hard times a decade ago bro. Know the feels

Thee Snoogans

RIP Steve. Was a buddy from the opivy forums back in 2001.. he passed away at 15 and was the first person that introduced Catch 22 into my life (before Thomas even left and started Streetlight). I'll never forget the post when we got the news he dies.. of his dad holding his drum sticks.. made me bawl still does to this day. That's why this band and their music is so important to me.

Anton Oakenshield

“Lost her strength on a Saturday, spent the day in bed, ‘yeah I’m fine, it’s just the flu’ she said with a smile.”

I can’t stop bawling. 🥺

trickytristan1

This along with the album titled song, 9mm, 1234, and dear Sergio were the songs that introduced me to this band, and ska music as a whole so I have to thank catch 22 for knowing how to make good and catch music and Tomas kalnoky for writing the lyrics to the great contribution to Valhalla and the gods of ska music, that is the album "Keasbey Nights"

braddestroyer

My dad died of cancer at a young age this song makes me think of him. Been a fan since the 90s.

Placebo_Jones

braddestroyer saw my mom battle cancer for years, heard this song when I was in high school. song still breaks my heart but gives me strength at the same time. God i love this band.

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