Starting his vocal career with NZ punk band The Enemy in 1977, Knox has involved in the NZ music scene ever since. Frontman for the short-lived but energetic Toy Love and one half of the perpetually magical duo that is Tall Dwarfs - as well as recording and performing his own solo works. Knox assembled Chris Knox & The Nothing in the mid-2000s and recorded two albums.
On Thursday 11 June 2009, Knox was admitted to Auckland hospital suffering from a stroke. This initially left him with limited speech and mobility. Friends and family of Knox initiated a blog that kept people updated. An album of various musicians from around the world performing Knox's songs was produced entitled "Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox" with all proceeds going to Knox.
When I Have Left This Mortal Coil
Chris Knox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I have left this place I'll leave my bed unmade
When you have burnt my frame there'll be no more of me
Just scattered ashes and the film of memory
There is no more to all of this than what we see
There's less than what we've dreamt of
In our failed and fucked up frail philosophy
When my tired heart has flexed a final weary time
When from my mouth escapes a breathless pantomime
When you've agreed they should turn off all the machines
There'll be no more of me, my slate shall be wiped clean
There is no more to all of this than what we see
There's less than what we've dreamt of
In our failed and fucked up frail philosophy
And that is all my friends, existence will have ceased
This universe I've built around me
Will have mortally decreased
And you'll all be okay
And you'll all be all right
And your own small worlds will spin through dark and light
And you'll all be okay
And you'll all be all right
And your own sweet lungs will breathe through day and night
When I am gone do not revere some phantom lie
So not make more of me and please do not deny
That I was nothing more nor less than what you saw
That in my scaling of the heights
I usually failed to leave the floor
When I am dead do not bemoan what might have been
Do not spend precious time on what my life may mean
For while I live I do not care or give a damn
What you think of me
I know how I have lived and who I am
And you'll all be okay
And you'll all be all right
And your own small worlds will spin through dark and light
And you'll all be okay
And you'll all be all right
And your own sweet lungs will breathe through day and night
When I have left this mortal coil I'll leave no shade
The lyrics of Chris Knox's "When I Have Left This Mortal Coil" seem to depict the idea of death and the aftermath of one's passing. The song starts with the lines "When I have left this mortal coil, I'll leave no shade," which indicates that the singer believes that they will not leave behind any significant legacy or impact once they die. They further state that their bed will be left unmade and that once their physical body is burnt, only scattered ashes and memories will remain.
The singer expresses their nihilistic viewpoint through the phrase "There is no more to all of this than what we see. There's less than what we've dreamt of in our failed and fucked up frail philosophy." The lyrics suggest that humans are limited in their understanding of existence, and any beliefs or philosophies they hold are ultimately flawed and insufficient to encapsulate the true nature of the universe.
The song's chorus reassures listeners that despite the singer's passing, the world will continue to turn and life will go on. They urge their loved ones not to idealize them after death and instead focus on living their lives in the present.
Overall, the lyrics of "When I Have Left This Mortal Coil" are a reflection of the impermanence of life and the struggle to find meaning in one's existence.
Line by Line Meaning
When I have left this mortal coil I'll leave no shade
When I die, I will not leave any lingering influence or impact on the world.
When I have left this place I'll leave my bed unmade
When I die, I will not be concerned with neatness or orderliness in my surroundings.
When you have burnt my frame there'll be no more of me
When my body is cremated, there will be nothing left of me except the memories others have of me.
Just scattered ashes and the film of memory
Only memories and the physical remnants of my body will exist after I die.
There is no more to all of this than what we see
The world and existence is only what we can physically observe and experience.
There's less than what we've dreamt of
Our dreams and desires for something more meaningful or profound are likely to go unfulfilled in reality.
In our failed and fucked up frail philosophy
Our attempts to understand life and existence are inherently flawed and limited.
When my tired heart has flexed a final weary time
When my heart stops beating and I die of old age or illness.
When from my mouth escapes a breathless pantomime
When I am gasping for air and struggling to breathe in my final moments.
When you've agreed they should turn off all the machines
When others decide to end my life support and let me die naturally.
There'll be no more of me, my slate shall be wiped clean
After I die, there will be no more of my physical or mental presence in the world.
And that is all my friends, existence will have ceased
Once I die, my existence will have completely ended.
This universe I've built around me will have mortally decreased
The impact and influence I had on the world and those around me will fade away after my death.
And you'll all be okay
And you'll all be all right
And your own small worlds will spin through dark and light
After I die, the world will continue to turn and everyone will continue to live their own lives.
When I am gone do not revere some phantom lie
Do not romanticize or idolize me after I die.
So not make more of me and please do not deny
Do not exaggerate my life or accomplishments, but also do not try to diminish them.
That I was nothing more nor less than what you saw
I am not greater or lesser than what people observed and knew of me in life.
That in my scaling of the heights
I usually failed to leave the floor
I did not achieve great success or accomplish much in life, despite my efforts.
When I am dead do not bemoan what might have been
Do not dwell on what could have been different or better after I die.
Do not spend precious time on what my life may mean
Do not waste time trying to analyze or interpret the meaning of my life after I die.
For while I live I do not care or give a damn
What you think of me
My opinion of myself is more important than others' opinions of me while I am alive.
I know how I have lived and who I am
I have a solid sense of my own identity and values, regardless of others' perceptions of me.
And you'll all be okay
And you'll all be all right
And your own sweet lungs will breathe through day and night
Life will continue on for everyone else after I die, with its ups and downs, joys and sorrows.
Writer(s): Christopher Alexander Knox
Contributed by Oliver G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.