Obituary is listed by Nielsen Soundscan as the fifth best-selling death metal band of all time and their albums have sold 368,184 copies. Their 1992 release "The End Complete" has also more than 103,378 copies in the United States alone.
After 1997's Back from the Dead album, the band had grown tired of touring which led to the band disbanding. During the hiatus, Donald Tardy played in Andrew W.K.'s touring band (during W.K.'s appearance on Saturday Night Live Tardy wore an Obituary shirt). Allen West focused on his two projects, Lowbrow and Six Feet Under while not playing in Obituary. Trevor Peres formed Catastrophic in 2001. The band reformed in 2003 and Catastrophic continued to exist alongside the reformed Obituary. Catastrophic released one album, The Cleansing, in 2001. Obituary's reunion album, Frozen in Time was released in 2005. The band's first live DVD, "Frozen Alive", was released in January of 2007.
Obituary are currently signed to Candlelight Records for their seventh album Xecutioner's Return, which was released on August 28, 2007.
Obituary's guitarist, Allen West, was recently imprisoned for D.U.I. (driving under the influence of alcohol) and released in January 2008. During his incarceration, Ralph Santolla served as West's replacement. It is uncertain at this time whether or not West will be returning to the band.
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Buried Alive
Obituary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Venom cover]
I'm alive but dead, awake but asleep
As friend gather round and mourners they weep
My mind thinks of all the things I have done
My body is cold but my heart beat goes on
And on................and on
As they lower me down into that hole in the ground
I scream out for help but they hear not a sound
I fear at the lid, my fingers they bleed
Is this happening to me or is it just a dream
Summon the dead..........
Baphomets call...........
Blood on my hands........
"Let me out of here"
My bones are decayed, my flesh it doth rot
I'm lying in silk, take the lid off this box
My lungs gasp for air, my eyes scream for sight
I promise the rise of my body this night
Summon the dead..........
Baphomets call...........
Blood on my hands........
Screaming in torment.....
I'm felling you all......
Take heed of my plea.....
Answer my call...........
I'm gonna be free........
The song "Buried Alive" by Obituary is a cover of a song originally performed by Venom. The song begins by presenting conflicting emotions experienced by a person who is still alive but feels as though they are dead, awake but still asleep. The person is being mourned by their friends and family, but their mind is consumed by thoughts of the things they did in their life. The body is cold and lifeless, but the heart still beats.
As the song progresses, the person feels as though they are being buried alive, screaming out for help as they are lowered into the ground. They fear getting trapped in the coffin and end up losing their mind, hallucinating and wanting to be free. The lyrics mention the summoning of the dead, Baphomet's call, and blood on the hands, which are references to Satanism and the occult.
Throughout the song, the person is tormented and pleading for help, promising to rise from the dead. The lyrics depict the feeling of being trapped and powerless, and the desperation that comes with the fear of being buried alive.
Overall, "Buried Alive" is a dark and haunting song that addresses themes of death, fear, and the supernatural.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm alive but dead, awake but asleep
Although I'm breathing and physically existing, I cannot truly live or awaken from this nightmare.
As friend gather round and mourners they weep
My loved ones have gathered to mourn my departure and express their grief.
My mind thinks of all the things I have done
My thoughts are filled with reflection and regret for the actions I have taken in life.
My body is cold but my heart beat goes on
Although my physical body is lifeless and cold, my heart and soul continue to live on.
And on................and on
My existence extends beyond the physical realm, and I will continue to persevere.
As they lower me down into that hole in the ground
I am being laid to rest in a grave as my physical body is returned to the earth.
I scream out for help but they hear not a sound
Despite my cries for assistance, my loved ones cannot hear me as I am now in the afterlife.
I fear at the lid, my fingers they bleed
I panic as I realize that I am indeed buried alive, and I attempt to claw my way out of the coffin.
Is this happening to me or is it just a dream
I cannot comprehend or accept my current situation and question whether it is simply a nightmare.
Summon the dead..........
I call out to the spirits and entities of the afterlife for help and guidance.
Baphomets call...........
I evoke the power of Baphomet, a deity that represents rebirth and transformation.
Blood on my hands........
I am responsible for my own fate and the events that led to my premature burial.
"Let me out of here"
My desperation reaches a tipping point as I plead for release from my claustrophobic confinement.
My bones are decayed, my flesh it doth rot
My physical body is deteriorating and rotting away within the confines of the coffin.
I'm lying in silk, take the lid off this box
Despite being buried, my surroundings are luxurious and extravagant, yet I am still trapped and unable to escape.
My lungs gasp for air, my eyes scream for sight
My body is desperate for oxygen and my senses long to experience the world outside of the coffin.
I promise the rise of my body this night
I vow to overcome this dire situation and be reborn into a new form, even if it is in the afterlife.
Screaming in torment.....
I am experiencing immense pain, suffering, and anguish within the confines of the coffin.
I'm felling you all......
My loved ones can feel my spirit and are aware of my current plight.
Take heed of my plea.....
I urge and plead for my loved ones to hear my cries and help me escape from my current confinement.
Answer my call...........
I hope and pray that someone will hear me and respond to my distress call, providing me with salvation.
I'm gonna be free........
Although my physical body may be trapped, I still have hope and optimism that I will one day be liberated from my subterranean confinement.
Contributed by Julia S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.