Gravedigger
Dave and Tim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913
Made his great grandchildren believe
Made his great grandchildren believe
You could live to a hundred and three
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
So Cyrus Jones lived forever
[Chorus]
Gravedigger
Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Gravedigger
Muriel Stonewall
Muriel Stonewall
1903 to 1954
1903 to 1954
She lost both of her babies in the second great war
She lost both of her babies in the second great war
Now you should never have to watch
Now you should never have to watch
Your only children lowered in the ground
Your only children lowered in the ground
I mean you should never have to bury your own babies
I mean you should never have to bury your own babies
[Chorus]
Ring around the rosey
Pocket full of posey
Ashes to ashes
We all fall down
[Chorus]
Little Mikey Carson 67 to 75
Little Mikey Carson 67 to 75
He rode his
He rode his
Bike like the devil until the day he died
Bike like the devil until the day he died
When he grows up he wants to be Mr. Vertigo on the flying trapeze
When he grows up he wants to be Mr. Vertigo on the flying trapeze
1940 to 1992
1940 to 1992
[Chorus x2]
Feel the rain
Feel the rain
I can feel the rain
I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Gravedigger
Gravedigger
Gravedigger
The song "Gravedigger" by Dave and Tim is an emotional tribute to those who have passed away, and a reminder that death comes to us all. The lyrics are comprised of several different verses, each recounting the life and death of a different person, and calling upon the gravedigger to make their resting place shallow so that they may feel the rain. The chorus repeats the refrain "Gravedigger, when you dig my grave, could you make it shallow so that I can feel the rain?"
The first verse tells the story of Cyrus Jones, who lived from 1810 to 1913 and made his great grandchildren believe that they could live forever. The second verse mentions Muriel Stonewall, who lost both of her children in the Second World War, and the third verse tells of Little Mikey Carson, who died at the age of eight after riding his bike with reckless abandon. The final verse circles back to the chorus and repeats the request for a shallow grave.
The lyrics of "Gravedigger" are incredibly poignant and relatable, as death is a universal experience that we will all eventually face. The song encourages the listener to embrace their mortality and make the most of the time they have, while also acknowledging the sadness and loss that comes with death.
Line by Line Meaning
Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913
Introducing the character Cyrus Jones who lived from 1810 to 1913
Made his great grandchildren believe
He made his great-grandchildren believe in something, could be a legacy or a superstition
You could live to a hundred and three
Life expectancy is unpredictable and can go up to a hundred and three years
A hundred and three is forever when you're just a little kid
For a child, even a hundred and three years feels like forever
So Cyrus Jones lived forever
Cyrus Jones lived a long and fulfilled life in the memories of his descendants
[Chorus] Gravedigger Gravedigger When you dig my grave When you dig my grave Could you make it shallow Could you make it shallow So that I can feel the rain So that I can feel the rain Gravedigger Gravedigger
The singer expresses his wish to the gravedigger to keep the grave shallow so he could feel the rain after death
Muriel Stonewall 1903 to 1954
Introducing the character Muriel Stonewall who lived from 1903 to 1954
She lost both of her babies in the second great war
A sad event where she lost both her children in the second great war
Now you should never have to watch
Parents should never have to witness their child's funeral
Your only children lowered in the ground
It's a heartbreaking scene when parents have to bury their only children
I mean you should never have to bury your own babies
It's unnatural for parents to bury their own children, and it's a devastating experience
[Chorus]
Repeating the artist's wish for a shallow grave to feel the rain after death
Ring around the rosey Pocket full of posey Ashes to ashes We all fall down
A nursery rhyme that deals with death (ashes to ashes) and all humans will die, (we all fall down)
Little Mikey Carson 67 to 75
Introducing the character Little Mikey Carson who lived from 67 to 75
He rode his Bike like the devil until the day he died
Little Mike was an enthusiastic bike rider who loved riding like there was no tomorrow and died while biking
When he grows up he wants to be Mr. Vertigo on the flying trapeze
Little Mike dreamed of performing acrobatics on the trapeze as Mr. Vertigo when he grew up
1940 to 1992
Little Mikey Carson's birth and death years
[Chorus x2]
Repeating the singer's wish for a shallow grave to feel the rain after death twice
Feel the rain Feel the rain I can feel the rain I can feel the rain Gravedigger Gravedigger Gravedigger
The singer expresses his desire to feel the rain after death and repeats the chorus
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID PROCTOR, CHRISTOPHER LAVERY, STEVEN NIXON, STEPHEN GILDEA, KEVIN MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cj_Playz
gravedigger lyrics-dave matthews
Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913
Made his great granchildren 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
Ohhh, 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
WillBrink
I was never a big Mathews fan until I heard this song, then I realized
what they played on the radio was the least interesting stuff from him
and he was a well of talent. This acoustic version demonstrates the
level of talent Mathews has. Killer version here.
B Mann
That can be said about so many artists. People think the same about John Mayer, but he's on the level of Jimi Hendrix and SRV, perhaps even a better version of the two. You would really only know this if you looked into his playing, not the crap on the radio.
Mark Brown
Oh hell yes. Never listen to anything from Dave Matthews on the radio, or for that matter studio albums. It is all over produced and trash.. ok not trash, just not what he is good at in my opinion. He is amazing and when he plays with Tim it is the most magical thing since immaculate conception.
My first introduction to Dave Matthews was Live at Luther College and from that day forward I was hooked.
Jay G.
Me too. My wife is a big fan and I went to a concert with her and all I can say is that I was blown away! One of the best , entertaining concert I’ve seen. See them live you will not regret it . They jam.
julien !
Never listen to radio..
Jimbo Baggins
I fell in love with him after seeing this entire show in a $30k home theatre. I was enchanted the entire time.
Wanabee Sailor
every time I hear this song, regardless the version - it touches my soul.. Thank you Dave...
ESL O.G.
But this version is best, to me
Honest Adam's discount warehouse
@ESL O.G. the only version. Lol
Michael 732
Same here