Cold Specks is Canadian musician Al Spx from Etobicoke, Canada, who now liv… Read Full Bio ↴Cold Specks is Canadian musician Al Spx from Etobicoke, Canada, who now lives in London. Cold Specks' music is steeped in the musical traditions of the Deep South. No wonder then that Al cites the Lomax Field Recordings and James Carr as influences along with Bill Callahan and Tom Waits. With a voice that evokes the 'spirit feel' of Mahalia Jackson and the visceral tones of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Cold Specks' sparse arrangements and chain-gang rhythms stop you dead in your tracks.

Lay me Down
Cold Specks Lyrics

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Mother, mother I wait
Father, father don't you fear
The ground is what this blood knows
We simply greet it and rest
All I ask of you now is to lay me down

Lay me down
Lay me down

Lay me down

With my last breath, my soul will slip
With my last breath, my soul will slip
With my last breath, my soul will slip
Where the ground is what this blood knows
We simply greet it and rest
And Brother, brother when the time comes
Will you smoke this history now?
Burn this name
When you lay me down

Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
When you lay me down
Lay me down
And lay me down
Lay me down
When you lay me down
Lay me down
When you lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down

With my last breath, my soul will slip

Where the ground is what this blood knows
We simply greet it and rest

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cold Specks's song "Lay Me Down" explore the idea of death and dying, with the singer calling out to her mother and father not to fear the inevitability of the ground being what our blood ultimately knows. The song acknowledges the finality of death and the idea that we simply greet it and rest. The repeated refrain of "lay me down" creates a haunting, almost meditative quality to the song, reinforcing the idea of a peaceful surrender to death.

The singer also addresses her brother in the lyrics, asking him to "smoke this history now" and "burn this name" when she is laid to rest. This suggests a desire to be remembered and a sense of legacy, even after death. The repetition of "lay me down" throughout the song can be interpreted as a plea for release and a desire for peace in the final moments of life.

Overall, "Lay Me Down" is a reflective and introspective song that invites the listener to contemplate the idea of death and dying, and the acceptance and surrender that may come with it.

Line by Line Meaning

Mother, mother I wait
I am waiting, mother.

Father, father don't you fear
Don't be afraid, father.

The ground is what this blood knows
The earth is familiar to us because it is in our blood.

We simply greet it and rest
We acknowledge the earth and find our final resting place in it.

All I ask of you now is to lay me down
Just lay me to rest.

Lay me down
Put me in the ground.

With my last breath, my soul will slip
At the end of my life, my soul will leave my body.

And Brother, brother when the time comes
When the time comes, brother...

Will you smoke this history now?
Will you let go of the past and move on?

Burn this name
Get rid of any attachments to my name.

When you lay me down
When you bury me.