Lay me Down
Denny Doherty Lyrics


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Got dust on my piano
And dishes in the sink
Your side of the bed is cold
I haven't slept a wink
So I read your goodbye letter
To the face inside my drink
Lay me down and roll me out to sea
Got your picture in my wallet
And some pictures in my mind
A pocketful of memories
I never thought I'd find
And it's rainin' like a Monday
And the world seems so unkind
So lay me down and roll me out to sea

[Chorus]
Lay me down, roll me out to sea
Calling on a mighty wave to cover me
Lay me down
Roll me out to sea
Heaven, if you're ready shine your light on me

Now listen to my story
Cause I haven't told it all
I saw her with her new love
She turned to me and called
When they asked, "How ya' doing?"
I could crumbled like a wall
So lay me down and roll me out to sea





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

Denny Doherty's song Lay Me Down paints a vivid picture of a man struggling to cope with the aftermath of a breakup. The lyrics present a desolate scene; a dusty piano left unplayed, unwashed dishes in the sink, and a cold bed that has barely been slept in. He finds solace in alcohol, reading his partner's goodbye letter to the face inside his drink. Memories of their relationship, both physical and mental, keep coming back to him, but they only serve to make his pain more acute. As he surveys the world outside, he finds it bleak, with the rain pouring down like his tears. The only release from this intense heartache he seeks is the hope that one day he will be released from the burden of his suffering. The song’s title, “Lay me down and roll me out to sea,” suggests a desire to be lost at sea, swallowed by the immensity of the ocean and its waves. The singer seeks oblivion, hoping the ocean will take him away and release him from his pain.


Line by Line Meaning

Got dust on my piano
My life has been filled with inaction and neglect, represented by the presence of dust on my piano.


And dishes in the sink
The mundane tasks of life continue to go unfinished, adding to my sense of apathy.


Your side of the bed is cold
The absence of a loved one has left me feeling lonely and isolated, with no warmth to comfort me.


I haven't slept a wink
The stress of my situation has left me unable to rest or find peace.


So I read your goodbye letter
I obsess over the words you wrote to me when you said goodbye, finding myself unable to let go of that pain.


To the face inside my drink
I use alcohol to try and numb the pain of my loss, but it only serves to reinforce my despair.


Lay me down and roll me out to sea
All I want is to be released from the pain and suffering of my current existence, to let the waves of the ocean take me far away.


Got your picture in my wallet
Despite our separation, I still cling to the memories of our time together, represented by the picture in my wallet.


And some pictures in my mind
Beyond the physical reminders of you, I also hold countless memories in my mind, each one a bittersweet reminder of what I've lost.


A pocketful of memories
These memories of our time together are all I have left of you, something I carry with me wherever I go.


I never thought I'd find
When we were together, I didn't fully appreciate the memories I was creating - it's only now, after you're gone, that they take on their full meaning and value.


And it's rainin' like a Monday
The world around me seems to be echoing my sense of loss and despair, with the sky crying down on me in a way that only reinforces my pain.


And the world seems so unkind
Everywhere I look, I see evidence of the harsh, uncaring world we live in, a world I'm now forced to navigate alone.


Lay me down, roll me out to sea
In the face of this suffering, I want nothing more than to be freed from it, to be taken away by the waves of the ocean.


Calling on a mighty wave to cover me
I'm asking for the ocean to take me, to wash away my pain and my existence in a single, powerful moment.


Heaven, if you're ready shine your light on me
I'm ready to let go of this life of suffering, and I hope that there's something beyond this world that can bring me the peace and comfort I crave.


Now listen to my story
Despite my pain, I'm desperate to be heard, to have someone listen to my tale of heartbreak and loss.


Cause I haven't told it all
There's so much more behind my pain and my suffering that I've yet to share with anyone, leaving me even more isolated and alone.


I saw her with her new love
Despite my pain, I still can't let go of you completely, and seeing you with someone else only reinforces my sense of loss and betrayal.


She turned to me and called
Even in that moment, you still reached out to me, a clear sign of the bond we once shared - a bond I'm still struggling to let go of, even as I try to escape this pain.


When they asked, "How ya' doing?"
Even the simplest of questions only serve to remind me of my pain, with every inquiry feeling like a cruel reminder of what I've lost.


I could crumbled like a wall
My pain is so great that, with even the slightest push, I feel like I would break apart completely.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LARRY WEISS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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