Kate left a secure career with a Nashville university to pursue music full-time. Her 1994 debut album "Songs From The Levee" was re-released in 2004. Her latest album "1000 Pound Machine" was released in 2012.
Shallow Grave
Kate Campbell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were the one
Bit by bit
The deed was done
By your calloused
Heartless ways
And buried it in
A shallow grave
With each faithless
Lie you told
I felt the knife
Still deeper go
Til my spirit
Could not be saved
You left it in
A shallow grave
But one night
The hounds will find
The trail of clues
You left behind
And you will answer
For your sin
But i promise
Until then
I will not rest
I won't forget
I'll haunt you
Every chance i get
For the way
My heart was laid
So careless in
A shallow grave
From this cold
Hard bed i pray
Somehow you'll meet
The same dark fate
Someone will take
The love you gave
And put it in
A shallow grave
No stone to mark
A shallow grave
The lyrics to Kate Campbell’s song “Shallow Grave” tell a story of betrayal, heartbreak, and unrequited love. The song opens with the singer addressing the person who has killed her love. She confronts them directly, accusing them of being the one responsible for her broken heart. She describes how the deed was done, slowly and methodically, bit by bit, as her faithless lover told her lies and buried her love in a shallow grave.
As the song progresses, the singer admits that her spirit could not be saved, as the hurt was too deep. She promises revenge, vowing to haunt her lover and make them pay for the pain they caused. She prays that her lover will meet a similar dark fate, someone will take the love they gave, and put it in a shallow grave. The song ends on a powerful note, with the singer imagining a time when her lover will be held accountable for their actions, and their heartless ways will finally catch up with them.
The lyrics to “Shallow Grave” are particularly poignant because they capture the raw emotions of betrayal and heartbreak. The imagery of burying love in a shallow grave is a powerful metaphor for the way in which love can be destroyed by cruelty and unfaithfulness. The song is also notable for its haunting melody, which captures the dark and mournful mood of the lyrics. Overall, “Shallow Grave” is a powerful testament to the ways in which love and trust can be shattered by the callous actions of others.
Line by Line Meaning
You killed my love
The person addressed killed the singer's love.
You were the one
The person addressed was the one who killed the singer's love.
Bit by bit
The killing of the singer's love happened slowly over time.
The deed was done
The killing of the singer's love was completed.
By your calloused
The person addressed is insensitive and lacks empathy.
Heartless ways
The person addressed is cruel and unfeeling.
And buried it in
The person addressed concealed the killing of the singer's love.
A shallow grave
The killing of the singer's love was hidden in plain sight.
With each faithless
The person addressed betrayed the singer's trust.
Lie you told
The person addressed lied to the singer repeatedly.
I felt the knife
The betrayal caused the singer emotional pain.
Still deeper go
The betrayal caused the singer increasing emotional distress.
Til my spirit
The betrayal affected the singer's emotional well-being.
Could not be saved
The singer's emotional state was damaged beyond repair.
You left it in
The person addressed was responsible for damaging the singer's emotional well-being.
A shallow grave
The person addressed hid the harm they caused in plain sight.
But one night
The singer wishes for the person addressed to be held accountable for their actions.
The hounds will find
The truth about the person addressed will be revealed.
The trail of clues
The evidence of their misdeeds will be discovered.
You left behind
The person addressed carelessly left evidence of their wrongdoing.
And you will answer
The person addressed will have to face the consequences of their actions.
For your sin
The person addressed committed a wrong that will have to be atoned for.
But i promise
The singer vows to seek revenge against the person addressed before they face consequences.
Until then
The singer will not rest until they have taken their revenge.
I will not rest
The singer is determined to seek revenge and holds a grudge against the person addressed.
I won't forget
The singer will not forget the wrongdoing of the person addressed.
I'll haunt you
The singer intends to torment the person addressed both physically and mentally.
Every chance i get
The singer will take every opportunity to harm the person addressed.
For the way
The singer holds the person addressed responsible for the harm caused to their love.
My heart was laid
The singer's love was innocent and undeserving of the harm caused.
So careless in
The person addressed was reckless and thoughtless in causing the harm.
A shallow grave
The harm caused was concealed and buried in plain sight.
From this cold
The singer wishes ill on the person addressed.
Hard bed i pray
The singer hopes for misfortune for the person addressed.
Somehow you'll meet
The singer believes the person addressed deserves misfortune.
The same dark fate
The singer wishes for the person addressed to experience misfortune similar to the harm they caused.
Someone will take
The singer believes that justice will be served eventually.
The love you gave
The person addressed will suffer consequences for the harm they caused.
And put it in
The harm caused will be uncovered and exposed.
A shallow grave
The person addressed will face consequences for their actions and will not be able to hide from them.
No stone to mark
The person addressed will face consequences without remembrance or remorse.
Contributed by Eli N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.