Memento Mori
Lamb of God Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

By the darkest river, beneath the leafless trees
I think I'm drowning, this dream is killing me
(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
In the coldest winter, between the fading lights
I feel I'm falling into a frozen sky
(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
Past the blackest heaven, above the dying stars
I watch me breaking into a million shards
(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
But through the hardest hour, below the cruelest sign
I know I'm waking up from this wretched lie
(Wake up, wake up)
Wake up

A depression fed by overload
False perceptions, the weight of the world
A universe in the palm of your hand
The artifice of endless strands

Distraction flows down an obsessive stream
Rejection grows into oppressive screams

The hardest hour, the cruelest sign
I'm waking up from this wretched lie
I fight it the same, don't waste this day
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Memento mori

The regression of advancing modes
And Imperial corrosive nodes
A prime directive to disconnect
Reclaim yourself and resurrect

Distraction flows down an obsessive stream
Rejection grows into oppressive screams

The hardest hour, the cruelest sign
I'm waking up from this wretched lie
I fight it the same, don't waste this day
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Memento mori

There's too many choices
And I hear their relentless voices
But you've gotta run them out
Return to now and shut it down
Shut it down

A depression fed by overload
False perceptions, the weight of the world
Because there's too many choices
Gotta kill their relentless voices

(Wake up, wake up)
I know I'm waking up from this wretched lie

The hardest hour, the cruelest sign
I'm waking up from this wretched lie
I fight it the same, don't waste this day
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Wake up, wake up
Wake up
Memento mori





Memento mori

Overall Meaning

The song "Memento Mori" by Lamb of God explores the theme of waking up from false perceptions and distractions, and reclaiming oneself. The opening lines of the song paint a bleak picture of the singer being overwhelmed and drowning in darkness. He feels like he is falling into a frozen sky, breaking into a million shards. But in the hardest hour, under the cruelest sign, the singer knows he must wake up from this wretched lie. The repetition of "Wake up" reinforces this idea of breaking free from a dream or illusion and facing reality.


The lyrics also touch on the idea of choice overload and the weight of the world, which lead to depression and false perceptions. The singer urges the listener to shut down the relentless voices of society and return to the present moment. The Latin phrase "Memento Mori" is a reminder of mortality and the concept of living life to the fullest, knowing that life is fragile and temporary.


The overall message of the song is one of awakening and reclaiming control over one's life. The images of darkness, freezing, and breaking symbolize the internal struggle to break free from distractions and awaken to reality.


Line by Line Meaning

By the darkest river, beneath the leafless trees
In a place of darkness and emptiness, I feel trapped and suffocating


I think I'm drowning, this dream is killing me
I feel like I'm losing my grip on reality, and the weight of this dream is dragging me down


(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
I am reminding myself to snap out of this dream and return to reality


In the coldest winter, between the fading lights
In a time of darkness and desolation, I feel like I am drifting away from reality


I feel I'm falling into a frozen sky
I feel like I am losing touch with reality and drifting into a world of emptiness and despair


(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
I am reminding myself to wake up from this nightmare and return to the real world


Past the blackest heaven, above the dying stars
In the depths of despair, I see a world of darkness and decay


I watch me breaking into a million shards
I feel like I am falling apart and losing my sense of self


(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
I am reminding myself to snap out of this dream and return to reality


But through the hardest hour, below the cruelest sign
Despite the difficulties and hardships, I know that I must persevere and overcome this challenge


I know I'm waking up from this wretched lie
I am starting to see through this illusion and return to the reality of the world around me


(Wake up, wake up)
I am reminding myself to wake up and stay alert to the reality of the world around me


A depression fed by overload
I am feeling overwhelmed and consumed by my negative emotions


False perceptions, the weight of the world
I am struggling to separate reality from fantasy, and the weight of the world is weighing me down


A universe in the palm of your hand
Despite the difficulties, I am still in command of my own destiny and have the power to shape my own reality


The artifice of endless strands
The endless possibilities of reality can be both captivating and overwhelming


Distraction flows down an obsessive stream
I am easily distracted and consumed by my own thoughts and emotions


Rejection grows into oppressive screams
I am struggling with rejection and the weight of negative emotions associated with it


(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
I am reminding myself to stay alert and avoid being consumed by my own thoughts and emotions


The regression of advancing modes
The progress of modern society can sometimes lead to regression and backward thinking


And Imperial corrosive nodes
The corrosive effects of power and imperialism can have far-reaching and destructive effects on society


A prime directive to disconnect
It is important to disconnect from the negative influences and distractions in our lives in order to stay focused and grounded


Reclaim yourself and resurrect
By taking control of your own life, you can overcome the challenges and obstacles that stand in your way and find a new sense of purpose


There's too many choices
In a world of endless possibilities, it can be overwhelming to make the right choices


And I hear their relentless voices
The voices of others can be overwhelming and distracting, making it difficult to stay focused on your own path


But you've gotta run them out
It is important to silence the negative voices and distractions in order to stay true to your own path and purpose


Return to now and shut it down
By returning to the present moment and shutting out the distractions, you can find peace and clarity of purpose


Memento mori
Remember that death is inevitable and that we must make the most of our time on earth


I fight it the same, don't waste this day
Despite the challenges and distractions, I must remain focused and make the most of every moment


Wake up, wake up, wake up
I am reminding myself to stay alert and focused on the reality of the world around me




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Randall Blythe, John Campbell, Mark Morton, Will Adler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@danadkins5374

@Anonye Have you been born again? Just to clarify in case you aren't familiar, that's not just some term to describe a Christian. It's an actual event that happens to someone who comes to Christ fully and gives Him their life, all of it. The crucifixion was a trade, the perfect God comes down in flesh, 100% human, 100% God, lives a perfect life in our place without sin, hence the virgin birth. We inherit our sin nature from Adam, the Male line, not the Female line. He undergoes every temptation we experience yet doesn't sin. The penalty for ANY sin is death (separation from God, the source of life yet still eternally conscious) because God can't let sin into paradise, we would just corrupt that like we corrupted Earth. But being innocent AND infinite, dies in the place of anyone that would come to Him for forgiveness and then immediately gives them the Holy Spirit who revives their spirit that was dead because of Sin and God through the Holy Spirit LITERALLY makes your body His home and NEVER leaves you and gives you NOT ONLY the ABILITY to keep God's laws, but an unnending LOVE for them and an absolute HATRED for the sinful things you once loved, HE DOES ALL THE WORK. None of our works can get us to Heaven and rationally that makes the most sense because once something becomes imperfect, how can that thing then because perfect again? It's impossible. Like an old used up wine skin, the wineskin can't remove it's flaws, or the consequences of them, only the maker of the wineskin could repair it. And logically it had to be God to die in our place because anything that He created would be finite and therefore even if perfect, could only take the place of one other finite being. God on the other hand, being infinite, could take the punishment of EVERYONE that would choose HIS WAY over the enemy's way, because technically, if we are rejecting the TRUE God to go our own way, we are following in the footsteps of the original rebel and this deserve the same punishment, humanity in it's fallen state is proud though, I was, and unwilling to admit that I was wrong and deserved to be punished if God is TRULY JUST. I don't know why I just said all that lol. I'll leave you with 2 Scriptures about what being born again is. One is from the old testament, 400 years before Christ where God is telling the people what will be possible for mankind after Christ comes and the New Covenant that mankind will have access to after Christ does what He does. And the Other is from Jesus Himself ❤️👍🙂.
And this is EXACTLY what happens to a person who comes to Christ with their WHOLE HEART and makes that exchange,Your flaws and Sins and screwups for HIS forgiveness, exceptance and changed heart, it's incredible. All that works based man-made religion can do is make you feel like you can never measure up nomatter what you do, the truth is so much easier.
Ezekiel 36:25-37
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My ordinances and do them. "

John 3:1-17
The New Birth
"Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews,  who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), we know [without any doubt] that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs [these wonders, these attesting miracles] that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’  The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be possible?” Jesus replied, “You are the [great and well-known] teacher of Israel, and yet you do not know nor understand these things [from Scripture]? I assure you and most solemnly say to you, we speak only of what we [absolutely] know and testify about what we have [actually] seen [as eyewitnesses]; and [still] you [reject our evidence and] do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things [that is, things that happen right here on earth] and you do not believe, how will you believe and trust Me if I tell you heavenly things? No one has gone up into heaven, but there is One who came down from heaven, the Son of Man [Himself—whose home is in heaven].  Just as Moses lifted up the [bronze] serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross],  so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life [after physical death, and will actually live forever].

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him."

John 14:1-6
"Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?”  Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."



@VICTORIOS1991

LYRICS
[Intro]
By the darkest river
Beneath the leafless trees
I think I'm drowning
This dream is killing me
(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
In the coldest winter
Between the fading lights
I feel I'm falling into a frozen sky
(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
Past the blackest heaven
Above the dying stars
I watch me breaking into a million shards
(Wake up, wake up, wake up)
But through the hardest hour
Below the cruelest sign
I know I'm waking up from this wretched lie
(Wake up, wake up)
Wake up

[Verse 1]
A depression fed by overload
False perceptions, the weight of the world
A universe in the palm of your hand
The artifice of endless strands

[Pre-Chorus]
Distraction flows down an obsessive stream
Rejection grows into oppressive screams

[Chorus]
The hardest hour, the cruelest sign
I'm waking up from this wretched lie
I fight it the same, don't waste this day
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Memento mori

[Verse 2]
The regression of advancing modes
And imperial corrosive nodes
A prime directive to disconnect
Reclaim yourself and resurrect

[Pre-Chorus]
Distraction flows down an obsessive stream
Rejection grows into oppressive screams

[Chorus]
The hardest hour, the cruelest sign
I'm waking up from this wretched lie
I fight it the same, don't waste this day
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Memento mori

[Bridge]
There's too many choices
And I hear their relentless voices
But you've gotta run them out
Return to now and shut it down
Shut it down
A depression fed by overload
False perceptions, the weight of the world
Because there's too many choices
Gotta kill their relentless voices
(Wake up, wake up)
I know I'm waking up from this wretched lie

[Chorus]
The hardest hour, the cruelest sign
I'm waking up from this wretched lie
I fight it the same, don't waste this day
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Memento mori
Memento mori



All comments from YouTube:

@sr71sr71

Aggressively telling you to go out and be with the world and fight depression! I love it!!!

@ShawnJonesHellion

Looked to me like it was telling you what's outside the door. Specially considering when this was released an the whole planet fell under obvious mind control. An i got in my car an took off. An it felt nothing short of this that year cept they weren't looking like cool demons. They ere wearing human outfits

@Woadie757

@Shawn Jones Proper grammar goes so far, Shawn.

@Sinister6scorpion

@filthg18  literally who cares.

@Woadie757

@Dani scozz Nice one

@Sinister6scorpion

@Filth G  how about not being a dick? What does it matter. So yeah "NiCe OnE" fucking paperclip of a human.

13 More Replies...

@zandavanrooyen5388

I remember when i was a teen and wanted to listen to these guys so badly, so i told my mom they're a christian metal band and she actually believed me

@treyz3366

you write christian metal. I read cristal meth. fuck breaking bad

@DropShotPat

Try that one with Cannibal Corpse, much respect to the hustle.

@lafrog3505

I mean they are Christian

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