Foreign Slippers (aka Gabrielle Fröden) was born in Norrköping, Sweden and … Read Full Bio ↴Foreign Slippers (aka Gabrielle Fröden) was born in Norrköping, Sweden and is based in London.

In Gabi’s own words, Foreign Slippers influences are an enigmatic combination of:

“…my mother’s classical guitar, long summers building tree huts in the woods with my brothers and sisters and family singalongs around an old piano on holiday.”

Oh Death
Foreign Slippers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh death oh death oh death oh death
Death
Oh death
Oh death
She left her bones, her lover, her roots
And we stand quiet by her quiet tomb
I reach for miracles but cannot see
Water in these days is not what it used to be

Oh death oh death oh death oh death
Oh death
Your hands my love, they confort me
And if we never speak again
I owe we love uncounted
Cause you have been a counted friend
Oh death oh death oh death oh death
Oh death
I must believe you
I hear you sing a praise
I watch you die an eye to your fathes face
Oh death oh death oh death oh death
Oh death
Oh death oh death oh death oh death
Oh death

Oh death oh death oh death oh death
Oh death

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Foreign Slippers' song "Oh Death" imply thoughts of grief, mourning, and acceptance of the inevitability of death. The repetition of the phrase "Oh death" throughout the song emphasizes the omnipresence of death in life. The singer speaks of a departed lover who has left behind her bones and roots, symbolizing the roots and memories that remain after death. The line "Water in these days is not what it used to be" may indicate a sense of loss of purity or a changing of times.

The lyrics also show a sense of comfort and acceptance towards death. The lyric "Your hands my love, they comfort me" posses a sense of reassurance and acceptance towards the inevitability of death, which is an ongoing theme throughout the song. The line "I must believe you" suggests that the singer has accepted death as a natural part of life, which is an emotion that many may struggle with.

Overall, the song provides a message of acceptance towards death, and the comforting presence of loved ones in the face of loss.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh death oh death oh death oh death
Repetition of the phrase 'oh death' to represent its finality and inevitability.

Death
The single-word acknowledgement of death, as it is the ultimate truth of our existence.

Oh death
Repeating the phrase to signify acceptance and familiarity with the concept of death.

She left her bones, her lover, her roots
Reflecting on the physical remains of a person who has died and what they leave behind, including their relationships and identity.

And we stand quiet by her quiet tomb
The silent mourning and respect given to the person who has passed, and the finality of death.

I reach for miracles but cannot see
The desire and hope for something beyond life and death, but the inability to fully comprehend it.

Water in these days is not what it used to be
The acknowledgement that time changes everything, including the meaning and significance of life and death.

Your hands my love, they comfort me
The consolation and support given by a loved one, even in the face of death.

And if we never speak again
The acknowledgment that death separates us from those we love and the uncertainty of what happens after death.

I owe we love uncounted
Recognizing the infinite and immeasurable love that we share with those we love who have died.

Cause you have been a counted friend
Acknowledging the value and significance of friendship and companionship in life, as they shape who we are even after death.

I must believe you
The need to have faith in something beyond life and death, even if it is unknown and incomprehensible.

I hear you sing a praise
The recognition of a higher power or spiritual presence and the belief in an afterlife, expressed through song.

I watch you die an eye to your fathes face
The presence and importance of family and loved ones during the moment of death and afterlife.

Oh death oh death oh death oh death
Repeating the phrase again to end the song with the emphasis on the inevitability and finality of death.

Oh death
The final acknowledgement of the ultimate truth of our existence.

Writer(s): Bernice Johnson Reagon

Contributed by Austin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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