7-10
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics


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Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913
Made his great grandchildren believe
You could live to a hundred and three
A hundred and three is forever when you're just a little kid
So Cyrus Jones lived forever

Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger

Muriel Stonewall
1903 to 1954
She lost both of her babies in the second great war
Now you should never have to watch
Your only children lowered in the ground
I mean you should never have to bury your own babies

Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger

Ring around the rosey
Pocket full of posey
Ashes to ashes
We all fall down

Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger

Little Mikey Carson 67 to 75
He rode his
Bike like the devil until the day he died
When he grows up he wants to be Mr. Vertigo on the flying trapeze
Oh, 1940 to 1992

Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain

Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Feel the rain
I can feel the rain
Gravedigger





Gravedigger

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dave Matthews Band's song 7-10 tell the stories of people from different eras and walks of life who have all experienced loss and mortality. The first verse describes Cyrus Jones, who, according to family lore, lived to be 103, and the impact this had on his great-grandchildren's perception of age and immortality. The second verse tells the story of Muriel Stonewall, who lost her children in World War II and the tragic nature of having to bury one's own children. The third verse depicts Little Mike Carson, who died young while chasing his dreams of being a trapeze artist.


The chorus, sung by the "gravedigger," is a plea to whomever will bury him when he dies to make his grave shallow, so he can feel the rain. This is a metaphor for wanting to feel life, and perhaps to remind those who still live to experience their time on Earth to the fullest. The song ends with a haunting rendition of the children's rhyme "Ring around the rosey," which is often thought to be associated with the Black Death, a plague outbreak that killed millions in medieval Europe.


Overall, the lyrics of 7-10 are poignant and reflective, inviting the listener to contemplate the fleeting nature of life and the power of memory and legacy.


Line by Line Meaning

Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913
Introducing Cyrus Jones with his birth and death year


Made his great grandchildren believe
Cyrus Jones was very persuasive and had a great impact on his great grandchildren


You could live to a hundred and three
Cyrus Jones made his great grandchildren believe that they could live for a very long time


A hundred and three is forever when you're just a little kid
To a little kid, living to a hundred and three seems like an eternity


So Cyrus Jones lived forever
Cyrus Jones lived on through his great grandchildren's memories and beliefs


Gravedigger
The chorus of the song, addressed to the person who will dig the singer's grave


When you dig my grave
The specific request to the gravedigger to make the grave shallow


Could you make it shallow
The singer wants to be able to feel the rain even after death


So that I can feel the rain
The singer wants to have a connection to the natural world even in death


Muriel Stonewall 1903 to 1954
Introducing Muriel Stonewall with her birth and death year


She lost both of her babies in the second great war
Muriel Stonewall suffered a tragic loss during the war


Now you should never have to watch
No one should have to go through the pain of burying their own children


Your only children lowered in the ground
The heart-wrenching image of laying one's own children to rest


I mean you should never have to bury your own babies
Reiterating the devastating nature of losing one's children


Ring around the rosey
Reference to a children's nursery rhyme


Pocket full of posey
Refers to the practice of carrying flowers to ward off disease during the time of the black plague


Ashes to ashes
A reminder of the cyclical nature of life and death


We all fall down
The inevitability of death for all of us


Little Mikey Carson 67 to 75
Introducing Little Mikey Carson with his birth and death year


He rode his bike like the devil until the day he died
Little Mikey Carson lived life to the fullest, riding his bike with abandon until his death


When he grows up he wants to be Mr. Vertigo on the flying trapeze
A reflection on Little Mikey's youth and dreams


Oh, 1940 to 1992
A closing note on Little Mikey's life




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID PROCTOR, CHRISTOPHER LAVERY, STEVEN NIXON, STEPHEN GILDEA, KEVIN MATTHEWS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Mark Riches

Somehow never heard of Dave Matthews Band. Decided to put a random video of theirs on, this video. Already know they'll be one of my favourite bands ever. Absolutely amazing first song

Mark Riches

@LandoSolo2024 Holy moses, 8 years?!?!
Yeah DMB rocks my friend. All about that Two Step.
Carter Beauford is seriously one of the best drummers man.

LandoSolo2024

How’s it going with DMB, 8 years later?
🤟🎸🥁🎷🎺🎹🎤

Donald Blakeman

Such a great group of musicians doing what they love to do. Carter is a beast!!

Jefferson Costa

I can't never forget first time that I've heard DMB - I felt completely hypnotized by his quality, synchronism and passion of his song...

Chris

This was the greatest weekend of my life. 

Zach Galante

Me too except that mine was caravan at AC

josh hardaway

Nice

kberry1977

Thank you so much for posting this video!!! It is amazing!! I absolutely love DMB and can't wait to see them again in concert tomorrow. I am so glad I found this video and can prepare myself for the mind-blowing experience I will encounter tomorrow! :)

glocker68

Love the faces he makes on that little ooopsie daisie on Shotgun!! Classic Dave!

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