For My Friends
Dr. Emok Lyrics
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He don't hide his shame
Says its all the same
Like a man without a name
Old days asleep in the shade by the Brandywine
See a dog get paid
See a boy behave
Every bone deserves a grave
Like he might not forget by the morning
With no more terrifying thoughts of dying
Ooh oooooh oooh
My Lord, I'm climbing aboard and I'm going home
No time to lose, no time to pack
Take a step and take it back
But I heard the Good Lord's warning
Like he might not forget by the morning
With no more terrifying thoughts of dying
Ooh ooooh oooh
Keep on with the living you'll soon enough be dead
You got the whole world spinning in your head
And you don't want to give it up (don't give it up, don't give it up)
Cause no one should be sorry
We're just another day
You can say you'll be back
But you won't ever go away (won't go away, won't go away)
Cause love that never leaves is never ever welcome back
And I'm running out of skin thick enough to hide in (won't go away, won't go away)
Now hand in hand we're back in time we're chasing the train
Looking back looking back to wave goodbye
We're headed for the same disaster (don't give it up, don't give it up)
The opening lyrics of "For My Friends" by Dr. Emok set a melancholic but introspective tone for the song. His friend decries the inevitability of death; there is nothing more after the end, he claims. This sentiment is juxtaposed with the nostalgic imagery of "old days asleep in the shade by the Brandywine" and the contrasting sight of "a dog get[ting] paid" and "a boy behav[ing]" - a cynical observation that even in idyllic moments, there is always something undermining that purity. The line "every bone deserves a grave" is a poignant reminder that all mortals have a limited time on this earth, and that they will one day pass on.
In the chorus, Dr. Emok sings of a divine intervention. He has heard the "Good Lord's warning," and it has given him comfort in the face of death. The line "like he might not forget by the morning" suggests a sense of urgency - perhaps he has been given a second chance at life, and he intends to make the most of it. This is reinforced by the repetition of the word "ooh," which gives the chorus a sense of spiritual transcendence.
The second verse starts with a simple but powerful message: "Keep on with the living, you'll soon enough be dead." This is a sobering reminder that time waits for no one, and that we should make the most of the time we have. The line "you got the whole world spinning in your head" suggests that we are often our own worst enemies, and that we can get lost in our thoughts to the point where we forget to appreciate the beauty around us. The refrain "don't give it up" is a rallying cry to keep pushing forward despite the hardships we may face.
Overall, "For My Friends" is a hauntingly beautiful song with a profound message about the human condition. It acknowledges the inevitability of death but encourages listeners to embrace life despite its impermanence.
Line by Line Meaning
My friend says that the end holds nothing more
My friend believes that death is the end of everything and there is nothing after it.
He don't hide his shame
He is not ashamed to express his opinions.
Says its all the same
He believes that life is the same for everyone.
Like a man without a name
He feels like he is just a nobody and doesn't matter.
Old days asleep in the shade by the Brandywine
He remembers the past fondly and wishes to go back there.
See a dog get paid
He notices that even animals get their due.
See a boy behave
He observes children learning and behaving.
Every bone deserves a grave
He acknowledges that every living being deserves to rest in peace after their death.
But I heard the Good Lord's warning
The artist has heard a warning from God.
Like he might not forget by the morning
The artist thinks that the warning is severe and shouldn't be ignored.
With no more terrifying thoughts of dying
After hearing the warning, the singer no longer has a fear of death.
Ooh oooooh oooh
This line is a musical break and has no specific meaning.
My Lord, I'm climbing aboard and I'm going home
The singer is returning to their spiritual home.
No time to lose, no time to pack
The singer is eager to leave and doesn't want to waste any more time.
Take a step and take it back
The singer may have some hesitation about leaving but is still moving forward.
Keep on with the living you'll soon enough be dead
The artist advises to live in the moment and not worry about the future, as death is inevitable.
You got the whole world spinning in your head
The artist implies that people have many thoughts and desires in their minds.
And you don't want to give it up (don't give it up, don't give it up)
People don't want to let go of their desires, even if they're harmful.
Cause no one should be sorry
The singer suggests that one should not feel bad about their desires.
We're just another day
In the grand scheme of things, every day is just another day.
You can say you'll be back
One can promise to return, but it may not happen.
But you won't ever go away (won't go away, won't go away)
Once something/someone is gone, it's gone forever and can't be replaced.
Cause love that never leaves is never ever welcome back
Love that never ends, never comes back in a good way.
And I'm running out of skin thick enough to hide in (won't go away, won't go away)
The artist feels exposed and vulnerable.
Now hand in hand we're back in time we're chasing the train
People are chasing after something/someone that they can never catch up to.
Looking back looking back to wave goodbye
Even while leaving, people look back to remember the past.
We're headed for the same disaster (don't give it up, don't give it up)
People are headed towards their own destruction, and they shouldn't give up their desires.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DOUGLAS STEWART, JOE MCALINDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind