Gravedigger
Dave Matthewa Band Lyrics

Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913
Introducing Cyrus Jones, born in 1810 and died in 1913.

Made his great grandchildren believe
Cyrus Jones made his great grandchildren believe that it was possible to live beyond a century.

You could live to 103
Cyrus Jones convinced his great grandchildren that it was possible to live up to a hundred and three years old.

A hundred and three is forever when you're just a little kid
To a little kid, living up to 103 years old feels like they will live forever.

So, Cyrus Jones live forever
Cyrus Jones will be remembered forever through his great grandchildren and their belief in living up to 103 years old.

Gravedigger
The subject of the song shifts to the Gravedigger.

When you dig my grave
The singer addresses the Gravedigger and speaks about his own eventual death.

Could you make it shallow
The artist requests that the Gravedigger make his grave shallow so he can feel the rain after he is buried.

So that I can feel the rain
The artist desires to feel the rain after he dies and is buried in his shallow grave.

Muriel Stonewall 1903 to 1954
Introducing Muriel Stonewall, born in 1903 and died in 1954.

She lost both of her babies in the second great war
Muriel Stonewall lost both of her children during World War II.

Now, you should never have to watch as your only children are lowered in the ground
The artist expresses the sadness and difficulty of burying one's own children.

I mean - never have to bury your own babies
The singer emphasizes the pain of a parent burying their own children and repeats the sentiment from the previous line.

Ring around the rosey
The singer begins singing a children's nursery rhyme.

Pocket full of posey
This line continues the nursery rhyme about a pocket full of flowers.

Ashes to ashes
This line refers to the traditional phrase said during a Christian funeral service, 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust.'

{Musical intro}
A brief moment of instrumental music in between verses.

We all fall down
This line concludes the nursery rhyme by saying we will all die someday.

Little Mikey Carson '67 to '75
Introducing Little Mikey Carson, born in 1967 and died in 1975 at just eight years old.

He rode his bike like the devil until the day he died
Little Mikey Carson enjoyed riding his bike and this was one of his favourite activities before he passed away.

When he grows up he wants to be Mr. Vertigo on the flying trapeze
Little Mikey Carson had aspirations of being a circus performer when he grew up.

Oh, 1940 to 1992--
The artist introduces someone born in 1940 and died in 1992 but never mentions their name.

I can feel the rain
This line is repeated multiple times in the song and emphasizes the singer's desire to feel the rain after he is buried.

Gravedigger
The song concludes with a final repetition of the song's title and subject, the Gravedigger.

Grave digger
A slight variation of the previous line to conclude the song.