Graveyard
J. Pearson Lyrics
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I said daddy please stay, but he had to run away
Cause he was busy, busy makin' lots of gold
So I told him, better have some fun before you're old
You'll be the richest guy in the graveyard
With money in the bank
You'll be the fattest cat
You'll have yourself to thank
Now what's the good of earnin'
With no time for spendin'
You know you're simply headed
For a horizontal endin'
The richest guy in the graveyard
So daddy won't you please slow down
You'll climb the Golden Gate to the graveyard
That gate is not so great
You'll be the sleepiest creep
Who's six feet deep
You'll find it out too late
I can't imagine how you can be a good lover
All wrapped around in brown
With a five-ply cover
So take my tip and don't work hard
Then you'll delay that graveyard drive
You'll be the richest guy in the graveyard
Now just you wait and see
You'll be the honest goon
Who ever went too soon
That ain't no use to me
I'd rather be found
On a flophouse bed
Then down in the ground
With dirt on my head
You'll be the richest guy in the graveyard
So daddy won't you hear my plea
Do me a favor and please
Make out the will to me
The song "Graveyard" by J. Pearson is a poignant commentary on the nature of wealth and the perils of working too hard. The song is structured around a conversation between a father and his child, with the child imploring the father to slow down and enjoy life before it's too late. The child reasons that being the richest person in the graveyard is no good, as money and success can't buy happiness or time with loved ones.
The song employs plenty of clever wordplay and metaphors to drive its point home. When the child warns the father he'll be the "fattest cat / who's stretched out flat," it conjures a powerful image of the shallow emptiness of material success. Similarly, the line "I can't imagine how you can be a good lover / All wrapped around in brown / With a five-ply cover" is a wry reference to the fact that no amount of wealth can protect you from mortality.
Ultimately, "Graveyard" is a song about the importance of balance and living in the present moment. It urges us not to sacrifice our happiness, well-being, and relationships for the empty promise of success.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning, 't was a fine sunny day
Starting off a seemingly positive day
I said daddy please stay, but he had to run away
Asking someone to stay, but being left behind due to their priorities
Cause he was busy, busy makin' lots of gold
Prioritizing earning money over spending time with loved ones
So I told him, better have some fun before you're old
Reminding him to not let money consume his life
You'll be the richest guy in the graveyard
Money cannot be taken with you after death
With money in the bank
Wealth that serves no purpose after death
You'll be the fattest cat
Living luxuriously will not matter in the end
Who's stretched out flat
Lying in a coffin
You'll have yourself to thank
Regretting one's choices in the afterlife
Now what's the good of earnin'
Questioning the purpose of working for money
With no time for spendin'
Not having the time to enjoy the fruit of one's labor
You know you're simply headed
Awareness towards a predictable fate
For a horizontal endin'
Death
So daddy won't you please slow down
Humbly asking for time to spend together
You'll climb the Golden Gate to the graveyard
Referring to the gatekeeper of death
That gate is not so great
Expressing the unpleasantness of death
You'll be the sleepiest creep
Humorously portraying death as a disrespected entity
Who's six feet deep
Reference to the depth of graves
You'll find it out too late
Regretting choices made in life after death
I can't imagine how you can be a good lover
Pointing out how money-centered behavior affects relationships
All wrapped around in brown
Reference to a color of a casket
With a five-ply cover
Reference to casket construction
So take my tip and don't work hard
Advice to find balance and avoid overworking
Then you'll delay that graveyard drive
Living a longer, happier life
Now just you wait and see
Future prediction of regrets when it's too late
You'll be the honest goon
Honesty is more valuable than wealth
Who ever went too soon
Premature death
That ain't no use to me
Value placed on having more time to live life
I'd rather be found
Preference to end up a certain way
On a flophouse bed
Reference to dying in poverty
Then down in the ground
Preference to not having a traditional burial
With dirt on my head
Reference to a traditional burial
So daddy won't you hear my plea
Urging for someone to continue living rather than being consumed by money
Do me a favor and please
Asking for an important favor
Make out the will to me
Asking to be the designated heir
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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