The end of 2008 saw Grieves enlisting the help of friend and collaborator Budo to co-produce Together/Apart bringing his signature swiss-army knife, multi-instrumental backdrop to Grieves' hauntingly poignant narrative. The album began taking shape in New York as the two built off the success 88 Keys and Counting had generated and paired it with the intensity they developed from their live performances. The recording process began to shadow the theme of the album as it saw tracks recorded in Colorado and Washington in addition to New York, infusing it with a mixture of regional influences while still maintaining a cohesive sound. As the album neared completion the title took on a double meaning for Grieves as he explored new subject matter in the absence of trust, refuge in addiction, acceptance and honesty in self-reflection, and trying to find his place in the world without forgetting his roots.
October in the Graveyard
Grieves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, take that devil out your head, lay your skeletons to rest
Bed of roses where you lay it down definitely
Those words cross your headstone
I'll pray for the moment you awake
Mighty is the bitter blade, crimson beaded water falling out of your grave
Another dusty record plays, dancing by yourself in the blue shade
'Cause the moment that you seen me coming you will both feet run to the reapers arms
(Chorus)
Take that devil out your head, lay your skeletons to rest
Bed of roses where you lay it down definitely
Those words cross your headstone
I'll pray for the moment you awake
That rusted metal gate will fall, plowing through that field in which you silently lay
Lovely little paperdoll scared of what that ghost in you might say
And I've done dug a lot of graves to uncover your bones and release you from the dark
'Cause the moment that I seen you running for that last train coming it done broke my heart
(Chorus)
Hey, take that devil out your head, lay your skeletons to rest
Bed of roses where you lay it down definitely
Those words cross your headstone
I'll pray for the moment you awake
The song "October in the Graveyard" by Grieves is a haunting track that explores themes of death, loss, and the afterlife. The chorus urges the listener to "take that devil out your head" and "lay your skeletons to rest", which can be interpreted as a metaphor for overcoming one's personal demons and finding inner peace. The mention of a "bed of roses" where one can finally lay down and rest suggests the possibility of finding solace after a difficult journey.
The verses of the song delve into the imagery of graves and bones, painting a picture of a dusty, forgotten cemetery where the dead are still waiting to be released from their dark and lonely resting places. The reference to a "rusty metal gate" that will fall implies a shift or change that is necessary in order to move on from the past. The line "lovely little paperdoll scared of what that ghost in you might say" could be interpreted as a representation of the fear and anxiety that can come with introspection and self-discovery.
Overall, "October in the Graveyard" is a poignant and powerful song that encourages the listener to confront their fears and find peace in the face of death and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, take that devil out your head, lay your skeletons to rest
Stop dwelling on negative thoughts and put your past mistakes and regrets to rest.
Bed of roses where you lay it down definitely
The singer hopes for a peaceful resting place for the person they're referring to.
Those words cross your headstone
The singer acknowledges the permanent effect of the words that were said or left unsaid in the person's life.
I'll pray for the moment you awake
The artist appeals to a higher power to give the person a chance to start anew after death.
Mighty is the bitter blade, crimson beaded water falling out of your grave
The image of blood coming out of the grave suggests the pain and loss that death brings.
Another dusty record plays, dancing by yourself in the blue shade
The singer portrays the loneliness and melancholy that come with death and the memories left behind.
And I've done dug a lot of graves to uncover your bones and release you from the dark
The singer has experienced a lot of loss and wants to help the person find peace even after death.
'Cause the moment that you seen me coming you will both feet run to the reapers arms
The person being referred to seems to have been waiting for death, as depicted in the phrase 'run to the reapers arms.'
That rusted metal gate will fall, plowing through that field in which you silently lay
The imagery of the gate falling suggests that eventually, everything will come to an end, even the silence and stillness of the grave.
Lovely little paperdoll scared of what that ghost in you might say
The artist sees the person in a vulnerable state, possibly full of regret or doubt about their past actions.
'Cause the moment that I seen you running for that last train coming it done broke my heart
The singer is deeply affected by the person's passing and their last moments, as indicated in the phrase 'it done broke my heart.'
Contributed by Colton M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheAndreaStanley
One of my favorite songs! Grieves-you are amazing.
Megan Henrie
After reading the lyrics and finding out what this song was about I tear up or get chills everytime I hear it. I'm a tattooer/painter and that art tells my story..I love when artists can create music and make me feel something. Grieves does that everytime just all around art and passion. It inspires me in my own art. Really have respect for this dude.
Wojtek Nieckarz
Perfect! HUGE props for undergound9 for promoting real hip hop :) so much beautiful music! keep it up! Cheers from Poland
Tracy Neyugn
im so surprised when i have convos with my friends that they dont show much interest in grieves...he easily has the potential to be one of the greats. dudes got mad skill..only thing that i think he needs more of is diversity with his tracks.
mazeton cabra
i think this is my favorite song from grieves<3
tiny rick
damn this shit still haunting 11 years later. grieves fuckin doing good too.
rabidfish02
So good.... I jam to this while I'm driving.
truebluenat
his music has to attract a wide audience
wouldyoureally
Four years later and I'm still listening to Grieves.
Demonic's Domain
What about now?