Produced by Jim Sclavunos (of Grinderman and Nick Cave + The Bad Seeds), David J Roch’s debut album offers a collection of darkly romantic compositions of epic sweep. Whether set against a backdrop of lush orchestration, stark electronic ambience or thrumming crescendos, Roch’s voice compels and mesmerizes as it leaps from sonorous baritone to soaring falsetto.
David’s stirring vocal style resonates with echoes of both Tim and Jeff Buckley or Nick Drake, also bringing to mind singers well outside the folk milieu such as Matt Berninger (The National) or Antony Hegarty. But it is jazz chanteuses Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday that David cites as his personal inspirations, while lyrically he feels a kinship with poets as timeless as William Blake or as contemporary as Simon Armitage.
Skin & Bones
David J. Roch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't worry, it will be over
Hold on though, you're alone, I am there with you
That much at least I can promise
You know what's to come to not accept this
Don't lose your soul, you must fight for each breath
Don't go quietly
Don't cry out for God
Just breathe in and out
Don't cry out for God
Just breathe in and out
We are but lambs to the slaughter now
I have no fear of death itself
So don't try and save me and please, God, forsake me
I'll suffer alone, I just want to be left
My soul has flown and I am what is left
I am skin and bones x 11
David J. Roch's song Skin & Bones is a powerful and moving track that tackles the difficult and sensitive subjects of death, dying, and the struggle to hold onto hope when facing mortality. The lyrics convey a sense of acceptance, resignation, and defiance, all at once. The opening lines, "Don't lose your soul as your eyes roll shut, Don't worry, it will be over," speak to the inevitability of death and the need to come to terms with it. Despite the sense of finality that pervades the song, there is also a message of compassion and solidarity, as the singer promises, "Hold on though you're alone, I am there with you, That much at least I can promise."
The lyrics also touch on the themes of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning in the face of overwhelming sadness and despair. The lines, "Don't cry out for God, Just breathe in and out," suggest a sense of abandonment, of being left to face death without the comfort of a higher power. The refrain, "We are but lambs to the slaughter now, I have no fear of death itself," conveys a sense of acceptance and resignation, but also hints at a deeper meaning and purpose to life that transcends death.
Overall, the song offers a nuanced and complex view of death, one that acknowledges the pain and fear but also recognizes the beauty and mystery of life. It is a haunting and deeply moving meditation on the human experience, and one that resonates with listeners on a primal level.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't lose your soul as your eyes roll shut
Try to hold onto your sense of self even as you're slipping away into unconsciousness
Don't worry, it will be over
Don't be afraid, death is inevitable and will come sooner or later
Hold on though, you're alone, I am there with you
Even if you feel alone in your final moments, remember that someone else is there with you spiritually
That much at least I can promise
I can't necessarily promise anything tangible or material, but I can at least assure you of my spiritual presence
You know what's to come to not accept this
Death is something that we all know is coming, so it's best to face it rather than deny it
Don't lose your soul, you must fight for each breath
Even though death is inevitable, don't give up fighting for your life until the very end
Don't go quietly
Don't just accept death passively, make your presence and spirit known
Don't cry out for God
In your final moments, don't turn to a higher power for salvation or intervention
Just breathe in and out
Focus on the simple act of breathing and staying alive in the present moment
We are but lambs to the slaughter now
We are all headed towards death like innocent lambs being led to their slaughter
I have no fear of death itself
Personally, I am not afraid of dying or the concept of death
So don't try and save me and please, God, forsake me
I don't want anyone to try and save me from my fate, and I even ask that God abandon me to face death alone
I'll suffer alone, I just want to be left
I am willing to endure my own suffering and struggle with death alone, without any pity or assistance from others
My soul has flown and I am what is left
After death, all that remains is the physical body without the spiritual soul
I am skin and bones x 11
This repeated line emphasizes the physical and mortal nature of the body, highlighting the inevitability of death
Contributed by Matthew T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tish952
I was watching "So you think u can dance" last night and herd this song playing and i was moved to tears, i then grab my phone and place the name of the song i did not even get the artist name ,, but z name of the song i could not forget all day long ,, i hve been replaying it all evening ,, cant get enough ,, magnificent voice , beautiful song , love it .....
@darwinrussell
So beautiful. Thank you for this touching song.
@daydreameronthego
Is it weird that I want this played at my funeral?
@Tauney
NO! Not at all. To me. I would want to hear this. And I'd want it played. In a way it's like that Dylan Thomas poem. Deep, dark and beautiful song.🖤
@musickluvrr
Being Human brought me here... love of great music keeps me. Beautiful voice, lyrics, & melody~ a hauntingly gorgeous "total package" of a song. Thank you for sharing it, I wish you much success. ~lhs
@Tauney
Truly.... 🖤
@miltieulinh3340
so you think you can dance brought me here :'x OMG I'm addicted to it T.T
@nakiabernard3418
It brought me here too!!!! I love his solo...best I've ever seen on SYTYCD!!!!
@melinajanet
same here.... it's a beautiful song..
@applelong5801
This is possibly the best song ever made. It is immensely deep in its perfect 3:55 min frame. It will forever inspire me.
I'm the 333,300 viewer.