Heaven Knows
Luke Dick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reflections going underground, and coming round again
So many circles, where do they end, what, why, and how?
So, I rode the rivers, I search (sailed?) the sea, sea, se-as
Jumped off all the waterfalls, rowed gently down the stream
In all the mirrors and salty dreams
and almost drowned:
When I die, then what will I see
When I lose my body, what will I be
Will the earth take back my last heartbeat and my bones
Will I lay there, stuck in the ground
Will a worm then take me into her mouth (Wanda)
Will I turn into a perfect seed for a rose…oh, heaven knows.
I found the flowers in the spring, spring, spring
Tried all the things that poets dream and singers seem to sing
Lived through the summer, feeling free, but leaves turn brown
When I die, then what will I see
When I lose my body, what will I be
Will the earth take back my last heartbeat and my bones
Will I lay there, stuck in the ground
Will a worm then take me into her mouth (Wanda)
Will I turn into a perfect seed for a rose…oh, heaven knows.
I made a baby, taught her to breathe, breathe, breathe
Read her every book I had, jumped on trampolines
Until we laid there, wondering into the clouds
She sang:
When I die, then what will I see
When I'm gone, daddy, what will I be
Will the earth take back my last heartbeat and my bones
Will I lay without a sound
Will a worm then take me into her mouth (Wanda)
Will a bird then pluck us out of the ground
Take me for a ride in the clouds
Drop me where the winding river flows…oh, heaven knows.
In the song "Heaven Knows," Luke Dick reflects on the inevitability of death and the uncertainty of what follows. The opening lines describe the circular nature of life and how everything eventually returns to where it started. The water, drain, and reflections all serve as symbols of the cycles of life and death. The uncertainty surrounding what comes after is highlighted in the questions asked throughout the song, such as "When I die, then what will I see? / When I lose my body, what will I be?"
The first verse recounts the singer's search for answers by exploring the world around him. He "rode the rivers" and "searched the sea" but ultimately realizes that even reflection and dreams cannot provide definitive answers. The second verse shifts to focus on the passing of seasons and the inevitability of aging and death. Despite this, the singer finds joy in life through his daughter and the memories they create together.
Throughout the song, the repetition of "oh, heaven knows" suggests that the answers to life's biggest questions remain elusive. Ultimately, the song serves as a meditation on the uncertainty of what comes after death and the importance of finding joy in life while we can.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the water, I see the drain, drain, drain
I observe the water flowing and draining away
Reflections going underground, and coming round again
Images moving down into the ground and returning
So many circles, where do they end, what, why, and how?
Numerous cycles; unclear end or purpose
So, I rode the rivers, I search (sailed?) the sea, sea, se-as
I explored the rivers and oceans actively
Jumped off all the waterfalls, rowed gently down the stream
I took risks and followed the currents of life
In all the mirrors and salty dreams and almost drowned
Contemplating life deeply and struggling in the process
When I die, then what will I see
Looking ahead to an uncertain future after death
When I lose my body, what will I be
Wondering about identity apart from physical form
Will the earth take back my last heartbeat and my bones
Questioning how much control one has over their remains
Will I lay there, stuck in the ground
Musing on the final resting place of the body
Will a worm then take me into her mouth (Wanda)
Speculating on the natural decomposition of the body
Will I turn into a perfect seed for a rose…oh, heaven knows.
Contemplating the possibility of becoming part of new life
I found the flowers in the spring, spring, spring
Discovering the beauty and growth of new life
Tried all the things that poets dream and singers seem to sing
Experimenting with different ways of living and expressing oneself
Lived through the summer, feeling free, but leaves turn brown
Enjoying freedom and warmth while acknowledging the passage of time
I made a baby, taught her to breathe, breathe, breathe
Becoming a parent and nurturing new life
Read her every book I had, jumped on trampolines
Sharing experiences and knowledge with a child
Until we laid there, wondering into the clouds
Gazing at the sky and pondering the mysteries of life
She sang: When I die, then what will I see
A child pondering the same questions about death
When I'm gone, daddy, what will I be
Asking a parent about the legacy they will leave behind
Will I lay without a sound
Wondering about the experience of death
Will a bird then pluck us out of the ground
Considering the possibility of transcendence after death
Take me for a ride in the clouds
Expressing a desire to experience something beyond earthly life
Drop me where the winding river flows…oh, heaven knows.
Leaving the ultimate fate to a higher power
Writer(s): Luke Dick
Contributed by Isaac S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tabatha Moonstone
I grew up on this type of music. This whole video was a trip down memory lane. Thank you.
corpclone
Love the marriage of music and motion. Sweet song and great visual interpretation.
carla Sullivan
Killer writing as always 🔥🔥🔥
sisoosarah
This qualifies as "amazeballs". Nice job! I want more!!
Tony Perrottet
Magnifico! (A great thing to see first thing in the morning in Tasmania!)
Kirk Alire
Refreshing to see genuinely genuine people. Outta the ball park. Your mother is one groovy human.
prowl103
Dude. Everything about this is brilliant
Clayton Dorris
Great story. Beautiful.
julian kiplinger
Amazing!
Sharon Autry
Just a bunch of tadpoles, the lot of us, trying to make our way in this pond. Great illustrations!