Josh Turner is a country artist who describes his music as South Carolina Lowcountry. His voice and musical style has often been compared to that of Johnny Cash's. Hailing from the Hannah, South Carolina, Josh moved to Nashville in 1996 to study music at Belmont University. It was there that he met his current wife, Jennifer Ford, whom he married in 2003. During that same year, he released his debut album, Long Black Train. The title song "Long Black Train" peaked at #13 on Billboard's US Country chart, staying on the charts for over 40 weeks.
Your Man, Josh's 2nd album, was released early 2006. The first single was the title track, "Your Man," which eventually climbed all the way to number 1. His big hit, though, was his second single, "Would You Go With Me." This song solidified the album's soon platinum status. His Christian-themed "Me and God" was released as a single on the Christian radio circuit. It was a moderate success, and was eventually released as a single on the Country radio.
"Time Is Love," is the first single from Josh Turner's fifth studio album. It finds him turning the phrase "time is money" on its head: ("Time is love / Gotta run / Love to hang longer but I got someone who waits / Waits for me and right now she's where I need to be / Time is love, gotta run.") The song was released digitally on December 20, 2011 and for radio adds on January 8, 2012. (Time Is Love Songfacts)
Pallbearer
Josh Turner Lyrics
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She abandoned all the good times
And the love I thought we had
I'm like a lonesome pallbearer, walkin' down the aisle
Travellin' to the graveyard, countin' down the miles
With earth-filled shovel, they dig that eternal bed
I'm like a lonesome pallbearer, carrying the dead
She don't call me and she don't try to
And my praying can't bring her back
My eyes are wide open watching my future fade to black
I'm like a lonesome pallbearer, walkin' down the aisle
Travellin' to the graveyard, countin' down the miles
With earth-filled shovel, they dig that eternal bed
I'm like a lonesome pallbearer, carrying the dead
Carrying the dead
I've pondered trading places with the man layin' in that herse
I try to hold my head up but her leavin' is like a curse
I'm like a lonesome pallbearer, walkin' down the aisle
Travellin' to the graveyard, countin' down the miles
With earth-filled shovel, they dig that eternal bed
I'm like a lonesome pallbearer, carrying the dead
Carrying the dead
Carrying the dead
The song Pallbearer by Josh Turner is a heart-wrenching ballad about loss and the despair and grief that follow. The singer is speaking from the perspective of someone who has recently had their heart broken and they are struggling to come to terms with the pain and emptiness that has replaced their love. The use of the metaphor of a pallbearer, someone who is responsible for carrying a coffin during a funeral, accurately describes the weight of the pain the singer is carrying with them. They feel like they are carrying the dead, carrying the weight of the relationship that has been lost.
The imagery of the graveyard and the earth-filled shovel add an extra layer of sadness to the song. The singer is not just grieving for the loss of their relationship, but it seems as though they are also grieving for the potential future that will never be. The use of the metaphor of death and burial emphasizes the finality of the situation, and that there may not be any chance of reconciliation. The song is aptly titled as the singer truly feels like a lonesome pallbearer, moving through life alone and burdened with the weight of their loss.
Line by Line Meaning
She left me in the darkness all alone
She abandoned me completely in a moment of darkness and took away all the light from my life, leaving me all alone.
She abandoned all the good times
She discarded all the memories of the good times we spent together and ended things without any second thoughts.
And the love I thought we had
The love that I felt was mutual was just a figment of my imagination because she ended things without a second thought.
I'm like a lonesome pallbearer, walkin' down the aisle
I feel like a lonely pallbearer, carrying the burden of grief and mourning someone who's no longer with me.
Travellin' to the graveyard, countin' down the miles
I'm journeying towards the graveyard where the deceased will be laid to rest, every step making it more and more real that they're gone for good.
With earth-filled shovel, they dig that eternal bed
The grave where the corpse will be buried is being dug with shovels filled with earth which will serve as a permanent resting bed.
I'm like a lonesome pallbearer, carrying the dead
As a lonesome pallbearer, I carry the burden of the dead with me as a reminder that they're no longer with us.
She don't call me and she don't try to
She doesn't even make an effort to reach out to me, making it clear that things are over and she's moved on.
And my praying can't bring her back
Despite my prayers and pleas, I know that there's no going back and that she won't be returning to me.
My eyes are wide open watching my future fade to black
As I watch the future that I envisioned with her disappear before my very eyes, I feel like there's nothing left for me and that everything is fading away into darkness.
I've pondered trading places with the man layin' in that herse
I've thought about exchanging places with the person who's passed away and lies in the hearse because I feel like I have nothing left to live for.
I try to hold my head up but her leavin' is like a curse
Though I try to stay strong and carry on, her departure from my life has left me feeling cursed and plagued by thoughts of despair and grief.
Carrying the dead
This phrase serves as a haunting reminder of the heavy weight that I carry as a result of her leaving me, as though I'm forever carrying the burden of death with me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSHUA O. TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind