David Byrne and Annie Clark of St. Vincent began working together in late 2009, using a process that Byrne had previously used on his 2008 collaboration with Brian Eno, "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today." The Who Songfacts reports that Love This Giant was recorded in Hoboken, New Jersey over a two-year period and features 10 songs co-written by the two musicians, with each one fully penning one additional track.
The duo had previously played together live at a St. Vincent show and on the album Here Lies Love.
The duo worked with a digital promotions company to distribute the promotional single "Who" and create embeddable widgets to stream the album. They toured to promote the album with a backing band that includes eight brass players (led by Kelly Pratt of Bright Moments), St. Vincent's keyboardist Daniel Mintseris, and My Brightest Diamond's drummer Brian Wolfe. Like Byrne's previous Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour, the performers engaged in complex choreography onstage while performing
For more details about the album, please visit: http://lovethisgiant.com/
Lazarus
David Byrne & St. Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Working your backbone, swinging your shovel
Hey, Hey Lazarus
Gold in your river, there forever
One of these days I'm gonna bring the hammer down (cool water)
I'm working hard, but my heart is wearing out (cool water)
Working your backbone, swinging that axe home
Hey, Hey Lazarus
Gold in your river, there forever
The captain's bell, it swings from side to side (cool water)
High on this hill, I'm working all the time (cool water)
(Grunting)
My hammer comes down hard on everyone (cool water)
I bring it down until my work is down (cool water)
Hey, hey Lazarus
Water won't do, too deep was the stain
Paleolithic hunters sang this song (cool water)
To give them strength to work the whole day long (cool water)
I am the tramp slummed in your doorway
I didn't come to set you free
One of these days when all my work is done (cool water)
I'm gonna rest in the lap of Abraham (cool water)
You will not see my face come morning
I didn't come to set you free
The song Lazarus by David Byrne and St. Vincent is a blues-infused track that tells a story of a hardworking man named Lazarus who uses his physical labor to make a living. The opening lines depict him as a man who is working tirelessly, using his muscles to swing a shovel and an axe. The chorus of the song repeats twice with the refrain, "Gold in your river, there forever," suggesting that Lazarus's toil and hard work will pay off in the end.
As the song progresses, we hear the lyrics, "One of these days I'm gonna bring the hammer down, I'm working hard, but my heart is wearing out." This suggests that although Lazarus is working hard, he is also aware of his own mortality and the toll that physical labor is taking on his body. In other words, Lazarus is described as a man who is working himself to exhaustion, but also laments about the harsh reality of life for the working class.
The song closes with the lines, "You will not see my face come morning, I didn't come to set you free," implying that Lazarus has accepted his struggles and is resigned to the fact that he cannot change the world. The lyrics are powerful and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a man who has been broken down by society's expectations and limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, Hey Lazarus
Greetings, hard worker named Lazarus
Working your backbone, swinging your shovel
Straining and toiling with physical labor, wielding a digging tool
Gold in your river, there forever
An abundance of valuable resources lies within your reach
Hey, Hey Lazarus
Greetings again, diligent Lazarus
One of these days I'm gonna bring the hammer down (cool water)
At some point, I will use my authority to take forceful action
I'm working hard, but my heart is wearing out (cool water)
Despite my efforts, I am becoming exhausted and drained
Working your backbone, swinging that axe home
Continuing to exert great effort, wielding a different tool
Gold in your river, there forever
The treasure you possess is durable and lasting
The captain's bell, it swings from side to side (cool water)
A nautical signal is oscillating back and forth
High on this hill, I'm working all the time (cool water)
Perched atop a summit, I am constantly occupied
(Grunting)
Experiencing physical strain or exertion
My hammer comes down hard on everyone (cool water)
I use my power to make a wide-ranging impact
I bring it down until my work is done (cool water)
I persist until my objectives are achieved
Water won't do, too deep was the stain
Bodily fluids cannot clean away this moral blemish
Paleolithic hunters sang this song (cool water)
Ancient hunters used this melody to uplift them during their labor
To give them strength to work the whole day long (cool water)
Enabling them to possess the stamina to endure all day
I am the tramp slummed in your doorway
I am a homeless person nestled in a place of shelter
I didn't come to set you free
I did not have the intention of liberating you
One of these days when all my work is done (cool water)
At a certain point after I have achieved all I can
I'm gonna rest in the lap of Abraham (cool water)
I plan to experience a period of relaxation and repose
You will not see my face come morning
You will not observe my countenance when day breaks
I didn't come to set you free
It was not my objective to deliver you from your situation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANNIE CLARK, DAVID BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind