Unquiet Grave
Lack of Limits Lyrics
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I never had but one true love, in cold clay she is laid
I'll do as much for my true love, as any young man may
I'll sit and mourn upon her grave for twelve months and a day
The twelve-month and the day being gone a voice came from the deep
Who is it sits all on my grave and will not let me sleep?
'Tis I, 'tis I, thine own true love who sits upon your grave
When shall we come together again
When shall we meet again, sweetheart?
When the autumn leaves that fall from the trees
Are green and rise up again
A kiss you crave from my cold lips, but my breath is earthly strong
One kiss of my cold clay lips and your time would not be long
My time be long, my time be short, tomorrow or today
May gods or devils have my soul but I'll kiss your lips of clay
See down in the garden green where we used to walk
The sweetest flower that ever I saw is withered to a stalk
The stalk has withered dry my love, so will our hearts decay
I'll make myself content my love, till death calls me away
The song "Unquiet Grave" by Lack of Limits tells the story of a man who has lost his one true love. The opening lines set the tone, as the singer observes the weather and recalls the woman who lies buried in the "cold clay." He vows to do as much for her as he can, and will sit by her grave mourning for a full year.
But then something strange happens. On the 12th month and the 1st day, he hears a voice calling out to him from the grave. It is his true love, who has risen from the deep to speak to him. She asks for a kiss from his lips, but he hesitates, knowing that her breath is "earthly strong" and that one kiss could end his own life. Nevertheless, he relents and kisses her, and his fate is sealed.
The final verse is haunting, as the singer reflects on the decay of the world around him. The "sweetest flower" in the garden has withered, and so too will their hearts decay. But he will remain content until death calls him away, perhaps to be reunited with his lost love once again.
Overall, "Unquiet Grave" is a mournful and atmospheric love song that explores themes of death, loss, and the supernatural. It is a reminder that even in death, love can endure.
Line by Line Meaning
The wind doth blow today my love, a few small drops of rain
It's a windy and rainy day, my love.
I never had but one true love, in cold clay she is laid
I've only ever had one true love, who is now laid in cold clay (i.e. buried).
I'll do as much for my true love, as any young man may
I'll do anything for my true love, just like any young man would.
I'll sit and mourn upon her grave for twelve months and a day
I'll sit and grieve on her grave for a year and a day.
The twelve-month and the day being gone a voice came from the deep
After a year and a day, a voice came from the depths (possibly referring to the spirit world).
Who is it sits all on my grave and will not let me sleep?
Who is sitting on my grave and not letting me rest?
'Tis I, 'tis I, thine own true love who sits upon your grave
It is I, your true love, who is sitting on your grave.
I crave a kiss from your sweet lips for that is all I seek
I only seek a kiss from your sweet lips.
When shall we come together again
When will we reunite?
When shall we meet again, sweetheart?
When will we meet again, my love?
When the autumn leaves that fall from the trees
We will meet again when the leaves fall from the trees in autumn.
Are green and rise up again
And then turn green and grow back again.
A kiss you crave from my cold lips, but my breath is earthly strong
You want a kiss from my cold lips, but my breath is that of the earth (i.e. dead).
One kiss of my cold clay lips and your time would not be long
One kiss from my dead lips and you would not live much longer.
My time be long, my time be short, tomorrow or today
Regardless of whether my time left is long or short, tomorrow or today,
May gods or devils have my soul but I'll kiss your lips of clay
I don't care who takes my soul, I will still kiss your dead lips.
See down in the garden green where we used to walk
Look down at the green garden where we used to walk.
The sweetest flower that ever I saw is withered to a stalk
The once sweetest flower I've ever seen is now nothing more than a withered stalk.
The stalk has withered dry my love, so will our hearts decay
As the stalk has withered and dried up, so will our hearts decay with time.
I'll make myself content my love, till death calls me away
I'll make myself happy, my love, until the day of my own death comes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN DOUGLAS GULLAND, DAVID OBERLE, GRAEME TAYLOR, RICHARD ALLEN HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind