Damien Jurado (born 12 November 1972) is an American singer in the indie-ro… Read Full Bio ↴Damien Jurado (born 12 November 1972) is an American singer in the indie-rock tradition of Seattle, Washington. His music is regarded as being heavily influenced by folk music. Over the years he has released albums on many labels; today his primary label is Secretly Canadian. He was once in the band, Coolidge, with Seattle's David Bazan.

Jurado's solo career began during the mid-1990s, releasing lo-fi folk based recordings on his own cassette-only label, Casa Recordings, beginning in 1995.

Jurado often makes use of found-sound and field-recording techniques, and has experimented with different forms of tape recordings. In 2000 he released Postcards and Audio Letters, a collection of found audio letters and fragments that he had found from sources such as thrift store tape players and answering machines. Also released in 2000 was Ghost of David,, Jurado's bleakest and most personal sounding record to date. I Break Chairs, (2002) was produced by long time friend, David Bazan. It was his last album for Sub Pop, and was a much rockier, electric affair. After signing for the Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian, Damien Jurado reverted to his trademark folk ballad-based style, releasing six more albums: Where Shall You Take Me? (2003), On My Way To Absence (2005), And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (2006), Caught in the Trees (2008), Saint Bartlett (2010) and Maraqopa (2012).

Official blog: iamcaughtinthetrees.blogspot.com

Oh Death Art With Me
Damien Jurado Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was courted by Death today
In an attempt to take my life
He showed up with a nice bouquet
Of flowers for my grave

He said, "Come with me now
And we can take my horse and carriage"
He led me six feet underground

Where the worms will eat my skin

"You will not need your body, son
For the devil he just wants your soul
He has had his eyes on you
Since the day you stepped in this world"

I was courted by Death today
In an attempt to take my life
He showed up with a nice bouquet
Of flowers for my grave

He said, "Come with me now
And we can take my horse and carriage."

He led me six feet underground
Where the worms will eat my skin

Overall Meaning

In Damien Jurado's hauntingly beautiful song, "Oh Death Art With Me," the artist portrays a conversation with Death himself. Death has come to take the singer's life and is offering him the opportunity to travel with him in his horse and carriage to his grave. Death is a symbol of the inevitable end that awaits us all and this song is a meditation on mortality.

The song begins with Death cheerfully courting the singer: "I was courted by Death today / In an attempt to take my life / He showed up with a nice bouquet / Of flowers for my grave." This initial encounter is framed in a way that seems almost romantic, as if Death is wooing the singer to his final resting place. But as Death begins to speak, the true nature of his intentions become clear. He tells the singer that he doesn't need his body, only his soul, and that he has had his eyes on the singer since the day he was born.

The chorus of the song repeats the same lyrics, essentially reiterating the point that Death has come for the singer and is offering to take him to his grave. The second verse continues with Death's invitation to travel with him: "He said, 'Come with me now / And we can take my horse and carriage' / He led me six feet underground / Where the worms will eat my skin." This verse is particularly haunting, as it describes Death leading the singer to his grave, where his body will decompose and be consumed by worms.

Ultimately, "Oh Death Art With Me" is a deeply moving song that explores the inescapability of our own mortality. Damien Jurado's voice is restrained and melancholic, lending the song a sense of quiet resignation. The lyrics are poetic and evocative, painting a vivid picture of Death and his insistent call.

Line by Line Meaning

I was courted by Death today
I was approached by Death today.

In an attempt to take my life
Death wanted to end my life.

He showed up with a nice bouquet
Death brought me flowers.

Of flowers for my grave
Death brought flowers for my future grave.

He said, "Come with me now
Death told me to come with him.

And we can take my horse and carriage."
Death suggested we take his horse and carriage.

He led me six feet underground
Death took me to a burial site.

Where the worms will eat my skin
Where my body will decompose and be consumed by worms.

"You will not need your body, son
Death told me that my body wouldn't be necessary.

For the devil he just wants your soul
Because the devil only wants my soul.

He has had his eyes on you
The devil has been watching me.