LAY DOWN
Edwin Hawkins Singers Featuring Melanie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

We were so close, there was no room
We bled inside each others wounds
We all had caught the same disease
And we all sang the songs of peace

Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

So raise the candles high
'Cause if you don't we could stay black against the night
Oh, raise them higher again
And if you do we could stay dry against the rain

Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

We were so close there was no room
We bled inside each others wounds
We all had caught the same disease
And we all sang the songs of peace
Some came to sing, some came to pray
Some came to keep the dark away

So raise the candles high
'Cause if you don't we could stay black against the sky
Oh, oh, raise them higher again
And if you do we could stay dry against the rain

Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
You gotta lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
You gotta lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
You gotta lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh

Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh

Oh lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh

Let it all down, let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds oh oh oh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh

Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh

Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh

Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh

Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh
Uh uh uh uh

Uh uh uh uh lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown




Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Let your white birds smile up at the ones

Overall Meaning

The song "Lay Down" by Edwin Hawkins Singers featuring Melanie is a call for peace and unity among people. The opening lines "Lay down, lay down, let it all down, let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown" encourages people to let go of their worries and anxieties and embrace a peaceful existence. The song acknowledges the pain and suffering that people go through, shown through the lines "We were so close there was no room, We bled inside each others wounds, We all had caught the same disease." However, the song encourages people to come together through music and sing the "songs of peace."


The lyric "raise the candles high, 'cause if you don't we could stay black against the night" can be interpreted as a call for people to be a light in the darkness and stand up for what is right. The phrase "let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown" is a metaphor for hope and positivity shining through and uplifting those who are negative.


Overall, "Lay Down" is a beautiful and uplifting song that encourages people to let go of their worries and embrace peace and unity.


Line by Line Meaning

Lay down, lay down, let it all down
Take a break, relax, and release all the burdens and worries


Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Look at the bright side and stay positive despite the negative people around


We were so close, there was no room
We were so intimate that there was no space left between us


We bled inside each others wounds
We shared the same pain and suffering


We all had caught the same disease
We have all been affected by the same problem or issue


And we all sang the songs of peace
We all expressed our desire for peace through music


So raise the candles high
Take action and bring light into the darkness


'Cause if you don't we could stay black against the night
If we don't take action, we may remain in darkness and despair


Oh, raise them higher again
Continue to take more action and bring even more light


And if you do we could stay dry against the rain
If we keep working towards our goal, we can overcome challenges and difficulties


Some came to sing, some came to pray
People gathered for different reasons, but with a shared goal


Some came to keep the dark away
Some came to bring light and positivity to counteract the negativity


Let it all down, let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown
Don't let negative people bring you down - stay positive and focus on the good




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MELANIE SAFKA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Morganasnotarobot0

Ur A Blessing! 💜♀️♂️
🔅 🌔🌕🌖🔆


Keep On Rockkn! Beautiful!....


Abrazós! 🎤 🎸 ☄
💚💖💚💖
Beautiful Blessings!
To U Bonita! 🕊️🌼🌼🌼🕊️
Amo!🕊️🌹🥀🌹🥀🌹.x.x..
May U All have All the beautiful love in the world!
Paź Amo Respect
🌾 🌬️⭐FoREVer⭐🌬️🌾⭐stay blessed⭐🥀....



All comments from YouTube:

@MelaniesafkaTheRealMelanie

"One Night in the Netherlands: Melanie Safka, 1970, and a Performance of a Lifetime" (Jeff Suwak, September 24): https://medium.com/yawp/one-night-in-the-netherlands-melanie-safka-1970-and-a-performance-of-a-lifetime-b4d2632f9cc1

@donaldsmith3926

Thanks so much for the link; I'm still following bread crumbs from that article. He has great taste in music.

@kinaleybas1761

Never forget this song, love her voice

@Morganasnotarobot0

Ur A Blessing! 💜♀️♂️
🔅 🌔🌕🌖🔆


Keep On Rockkn! Beautiful!....


Abrazós! 🎤 🎸 ☄
💚💖💚💖
Beautiful Blessings!
To U Bonita! 🕊️🌼🌼🌼🕊️
Amo!🕊️🌹🥀🌹🥀🌹.x.x..
May U All have All the beautiful love in the world!
Paź Amo Respect
🌾 🌬️⭐FoREVer⭐🌬️🌾⭐stay blessed⭐🥀....

@bobnan9815

Powerful and beautiful voice. Thank you Melanie for the memories.

@veronamartin5285

Wow! Amazing! Love & Peace. 💖 Love this song! Your voice is incredible.

124 More Replies...

@nancydemello2974

I'm listening in 2024! RIP Melanie! Thank you for this beautiful song to remember you by!!😢

@A1exS

hello from Russia ^-)

@nancydemello2974

Hello Russia! Is it Das ver Donna! Sorry for the misspelling! Im so happy that you love Melanie's music! So profounding! What a sad day for us here in America!

@nancydemello2974

Donha, again, sorry for this misspelling!

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