Harlem River marked the solo debut. Known for his work as the singer/guitarist for the Brooklyn band The Babies and bassist for Woods, the Kansas City native and new Los Angeles resident, calls the record “an homage to New York City,” his adopted home for the past five years.
The Dead They Don't Come Back
Kevin Morby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I noticed that
I passed a cemetery
Oh lord I held my breath
Dead they don't come back
Dead they don't come back
Dead they don't, dead they don't, dead they don't come back
I passed that old graveyard
Life is mighty lonely
And life is mighty hard
Dead they don't wake up
Dead they don't wake up
Dead they don't, dead they don't, dead they don't wake up
Oh I am on a ride
Measure the distance in time
I can see your teardrops
Behind that black black veil
Made me hope for heaven
And me scared for hell
Dead they all will sleep
Dead they all will sleep
Dead they all, the dead they all, the dead they all will sleep
The song The Dead They Don't Come Back by Kevin Morby is a somber and reflective meditation on the inevitability of death. The opening lines describe the singer's daily routine, passing by a cemetery on the way to work, and feeling a sense of unease and apprehension at the reminder of death. The repeated refrain, "Dead they don't come back," emphasizes the finality and irreversibility of death, and the powerlessness of the living to change what has already passed.
As the song progresses, the singer continues to encounter reminders of death, passing by an old graveyard on the way to school. The repeated refrain changes slightly, becoming "Dead they don't wake up," which captures the sense of detachment and absence associated with death. The final verse shifts to a more personal reflection on mortality, as the singer describes seeing someone behind a black veil, possibly mourning a loved one who has passed away. The imagery of tears and the contrasting feelings of hope and fear associated with the afterlife suggest a complex and difficult emotional landscape.
Overall, The Dead They Don't Come Back presents a stark and honest portrayal of death and its impact on the living. The song's spare instrumentation and haunting melody enhance the sense of melancholy and loss conveyed by the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
On my way to work
During my commute to my job
I noticed that
I became aware of the fact that
I passed a cemetery
I went by a burial ground where the deceased are interred
Oh lord I held my breath
I felt a sense of unease and apprehension
Dead they don't come back
Once someone has passed away, they cannot return to life
Dead they don't, dead they don't, dead they don't come back
Reiterating that those who have died cannot be revived
And on my way to school
While I was traveling to my educational institution
I passed that old graveyard
I saw that same burial site again
Life is mighty lonely
Existence can be very isolating and desolate
And life is mighty hard
The act of living can be incredibly challenging
Dead they don't wake up
The deceased cannot be restored to consciousness
Dead they don't wake up
Reaffirming the idea that the dead cannot be roused
Dead they don't, dead they don't, dead they don't wake up
Repeating the notion that once someone has died, they cannot be awakened
Oh I am on a ride
I am on an unpredictable, tumultuous journey
Measure the distance in time
The duration of our lives is a way to mark the passage of time
I can see your teardrops
I am able to observe the tears you have shed
Behind that black black veil
Unseen emotions and grief that are concealed from view
Made me hope for heaven
It caused me to yearn for an afterlife
And me scared for hell
It also made me anxious about the possibility of eternal suffering
Dead they all will sleep
All who have passed away will ultimately rest
Dead they all will sleep
Reiterating that death brings eternal slumber
Dead they all, the dead they all, the dead they all will sleep
Underscoring the idea that everyone who dies will eventually lay down to rest for eternity
Writer(s): ROB BARBATO, KEVIN ROBERT MORBY, JUSTIN GERARD SULLIVAN
Contributed by Adrian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.