Lanegan began his musical career in 1984 with Screaming Trees, with whom he released seven studio albums and five EPs before their disbandment in 2000. During his time with the band, he also started a solo career and released his first solo studio album, The Winding Sheet, in 1990. He subsequently released a further 10 solo albums, which received critical recognition but only moderate commercial success. Following the end of Screaming Trees, he became a frequent collaborator of Queens of the Stone Age, and was a full-time member between 2001 and 2005 during the Songs for the Deaf and Lullabies to Paralyze eras.
Lanegan collaborated with various artists throughout his career. In the 1990s, he and Kurt Cobain recorded an album of Lead Belly covers that was ultimately never released. He also joined Layne Staley and Mike McCready in the band Mad Season, and formed the alternative rock group The Gutter Twins with Greg Dulli in 2003, as well as contributing to releases by Moby, Bomb the Bass, Soulsavers, Tinariwen, The Twilight Singers, Manic Street Preachers, and Unkle, among others.
Lanegan struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol throughout his life, but had been sober for over a decade at the time of his death. Encouraged by his friend Anthony Bourdain, he released the memoir Sing Backwards and Weep in 2020. He followed this up in 2021 with the memoir Devil in a Coma, which focused on his near-death experience with COVID-19. He and his wife Shelley Brien left the U.S. in 2020 and settled in the Irish town of Killarney, where he died two years later at the age of 57. No cause of death was revealed.
Studio albums
The Winding Sheet (1990)
Whiskey for the Holy Ghost (1994)
Scraps at Midnight (1998)
I'll Take Care of You (1999)
Field Songs (2001)
Bubblegum (2004)
Blues Funeral (2012)
Imitations (2013)
Phantom Radio (2014)
Gargoyle (2017)
Somebody's Knocking (2019)
Straight Songs of Sorrow (2020)
Lexington Slow Down
Mark Lanegan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't hope to die if before Lexington I could slow down
They say a chariot's waiting when you get cut loose
The place start swinging when it's me on the noose
Mother do you think that your children cry?
'Cause they want to shake your chain?
I walked miles today one for every year of my life
In this stinking fucking rain
Ooh, Just to slow down
So I could slow down
So I could slow down, yeah
Work for me luck just one last time
Spare me a chance, I've wasted mine
Shine on me light, don't you know I would
Reach for you there if only I could?
If I could slow down
If I could slow down
If I could slow down
Just slow down
I don't mind being stoned they say, Jesus was
And I like being alone and I can take living low
Forgive my being cruel if ever I was say a word for me too
When I'm under the gun it wouldn't break my heart
If I could slow down
Let the place start swinging
If there's a chariot waiting
Wouldn't break my heart
If I could slow down
Let the place start swinging
There's a chariot waiting
Wouldn't break my heart
"Lexington Slow Down" by Mark Lanegan is an emotive and melancholic song that touches on the theme of death and taking things slow. Lanegan starts the song acknowledging that he wouldn't be heartbroken if he died but wishes he could slow down before reaching Lexington. He uses a metaphor of a chariot waiting when one is cut loose to describe the transition from life to death. Lanegan insinuates that he is ready to go, but there are still some things he wants to take care of before transitioning. He wishes to slow down and take his time before the inevitable happens.
The second verse seems to be directed to Lanegan's mother, asking if her children cry because they can't shake her chain or if they miss her. The following line, "I walked miles today one for every year of my life, in this stinking fucking rain," suggests that he's been burdened by life's challenges and he's tired. He longs to slow down the pace of his life, despite its hardships. In the chorus, Lanegan repeats the line "If I could slow down," emphasizing this wish to take things more peacefully. Towards the end, Lanegan addresses God, asking for one more chance and for forgiveness whenever he's been "cruel." He acknowledges that he doesn't mind being stoned and enjoys being alone, but he wants to take things slow and not be under the gun.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't break my heart
I wouldn't be heartbroken
I won't hope to die if before Lexington I could slow down
I won't wish to die before I can take a break at Lexington
They say a chariot's waiting when you get cut loose
It's said that there's an escape plan when you're in trouble
The place start swinging when it's me on the noose
Things will get lively when I'm in danger
Mother do you think that your children cry?
Do you believe that your children cry for help?
'Cause they want to shake your chain?
Because they want to break free from your control?
I walked miles today one for every year of my life
I walked a mile for each year I've lived
In this stinking fucking rain
In this terrible, rainy weather
Ooh, Just to slow down
Oh, to take a break
So I could slow down
So I can rest
So I could slow down, yeah
So I can slow down, yes
Work for me luck just one last time
Give me good luck one more time
Spare me a chance, I've wasted mine
Give me another opportunity, I've already squandered mine
Shine on me light, don't you know I would
Bring me luck, you know I'd do the same for you
Reach for you there if only I could?
Wouldn't you do the same for me if you could?
If I could slow down
If I could take a break
Just slow down
Simply rest
I don't mind being stoned they say, Jesus was
They say it's okay to be high, even Jesus did it
And I like being alone and I can take living low
I enjoy solitude and can handle living humbly
Forgive my being cruel if ever I was say a word for me too
Forgive me for my past mistakes, ask for forgiveness for me as well
When I'm under the gun it wouldn't break my heart
I wouldn't be heartbroken when I'm under pressure
Let the place start swinging
Let the atmosphere become lively
If there's a chariot waiting
If there's an escape plan available
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KENI RICHARDS, MARK LANEGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anitagrey7356
Won't break my heart, won't hope to die
Before Lexington could slow down
They say a chariot's waitin'
When you get cut loose
The place starts swinging
When it's me on the noose
Mother do you think
That your children cry
Cause they want to shake your chain?
I walked miles today, one for every year of my life
In this stinking fucking rain
Ooh, just to slow down
So I could slow down
So I could slow down, yeah
Work for me luck, just one last time
Spare me a chance, I've wasted mine
Shine on me light, don't you know I would
Reach for you there, if only I could
If I could slow down
If I could slow down
If I could slow down, just slow down
Don't mind being stoned, they said Jesus was
And I like being alone, and I could take livin' low
Forgive my being cruel, if ever I was
Say a word for me too, when I'm under the gun
Wouldn't break my heart
If I could slow down
Let the place start swingin'
There's a chariot waitin'
Wouldn't break my heart
If I could slow down
Let the place start swinging
There's a chariot waitin'
Wouldn't break my heart
@brendanbarnes3404
A greatness, Mark, a greatness — a true singer, a superb writer and beautiful soul, loved by all.
-Nick Cave
@AsafHoli
Shine on me light, don't you know I would Reach for you there if only I could
Rip mark lanegan
@BinBinOnTheMic
One of the absolute greats
@rcrellen1980
best song i ever heard...and i ain't joking
@volaris123d
this song can tear ur heart and mind into a million pieces its just that good
@nathancarr7593
I love this song ill miss Mark never got to see him
@PositiveWordMeditation
RIP Lanegan, now your with Kurt, Layne,and Chris. 😭❤💔
@pedromiguelpereira4084
It´s wonderful to discover such a genius at this time. You'll have a lot to discover and enjoy.
@melowdeedee
heart wrenching ,relateable , makes me miss the people ive lost in life, dead or alive. i could jump in his lyrics and feel the most perfect melancholy .
@ryanbotoy
R.I.P.