Dewey Cox Died
Dewey Cox Lyrics
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Preacher says his words, grown men cry
Women start to faint, dark gray sky
Simple wooden box, preacher asks, why
Dewey Cox died
Put him in the ground, start to shovel dirt
Grown men turn away, cannot bear the hurt
You fell out of a tree, fell upon his head
Rushed him to a hospital, there pronounced dead
Hey, have you heard the news?
Dewey Cox died
No, say it isn't so, Dewey Cox died
Flowers everywhere, children cry
Guitar on the ground, God himself asks why
Long black hearse, clear blue sky
Preacher says his words, grown men cry
Hey, have you heard the news?
Dewey Cox died
Why?
Hey, have you heard the news?
Dewey Cox died today
Dead
The song "Dewey Cox Died" is a somber, melancholic tune that tells the story of the titular character's tragic demise. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the funeral proceedings, with mourners weeping and fainting at the sight of Dewey's casket. The preacher's words add to the solemnity of the occasion, and the simple wooden box in which Dewey is laid to rest reminds us of the stark reality of death.
The second verse of the song sheds light on the circumstances of Dewey's death. He fell out of a tree and hit his head, and despite being taken to a hospital, he was pronounced dead. The suddenness and senselessness of his passing is reflected in the chorus of the song, where the repeated line "Hey, have you heard the news? Dewey Cox died" drives home the shock and grief felt by those who knew him.
Line by Line Meaning
Long black hearse, clear blue sky
The moment of death was met with clarity and solemnity, as a hearse made its way under a clear blue sky.
Preacher says his words, grown men cry
There was a preacher who spoke words of solace, but the grief of grown men could not be contained.
Women start to faint, dark gray sky
The mourners, mostly women, began to faint and lose consciousness under the weight of their grief, as the sky turned gray to reflect their sadness.
Simple wooden box, preacher asks, why
The body was carried in a simple wooden box as the preacher beseeched a higher power, wondering why such a tragedy had occurred.
Hey, have you heard the news? Dewey Cox died
The announcement of Dewey Cox's death came as a shock to the community.
Put him in the ground, start to shovel dirt
The practical reality of death set in as Dewey's body was buried and dirt was shoveled on top of it, signifying the finality of his passing.
Grown men turn away, cannot bear the hurt
Even grown men, who are expected to be strong, could not bear the pain of Dewey's passing and had to turn away.
You fell out of a tree, fell upon his head, rushed him to a hospital, there pronounced dead
The tragic circumstances of Dewey's death were explained - he fell out of a tree and onto his head, despite being rushed to the hospital, he could not be saved.
No, say it isn't so, Dewey Cox died
The disbelief of the community was palpable, with many expressing a desire for it to not be true.
Flowers everywhere, children cry, guitar on the ground, God himself asks why
The scene was one of utter devastation, with flowers everywhere and even children crying. Even God himself seemed to wonder why such a tragedy had befallen Dewey Cox.
Long black hearse, clear blue sky, preacher says his words, grown men cry
The refrain of the song emphasizes the solemnity and grief of the moment, with grown men crying as the hearse makes its way away under a clear blue sky and the preacher speaks his final words.
Hey, have you heard the news? Dewey Cox died today
The song ends with a repetition of the initial shock and announcement of Dewey Cox's sudden death.
Dead
A final confirmation that Dewey Cox has passed away.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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