Rest in Peace
Original Television Soundtrack Lyrics
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So many years ago
You can make me feel
Like it isn't so
Why you come to be with me
I think I finally know
Mmm-hmmm
You're scared
Ashamed of what you feel
And you can't tell the ones you love
You know they couldn't deal
A whisper in a dead man's ear
It doesn't make it real
That's great
But I don't wanna play
'Cause being with you touches me
More than I can say
And since I'm only dead to you
I'm saying stay away
And let me rest in peace
Let me rest in peace
Let me get some sleep
Let me take my love and bury it
In a hole six foot deep
I can lay my body down
But I can't find my sweet release
So let me rest in peace
You know you got a willing slave
And you just love to play the thought
That you might misbehave
But 'til you do
I'm telling you
Stop visiting my grave
And let me rest in peace
I know I should go
But I follow you
Like a man posessed
There's a traitor here
Beneath my breast
And it hurts me more
Than you've ever guessed
If my heart could beat
It would break my chest
But I can see
You're unimpressed
So leave me be!
And let me rest in peace
Let me get some sleep
Let me take my love and bury it
In a hole six foot deep
I can lay my body down
But I can't find my sweet release
Let me rest in peace
Why won't you
Let me rest in peace?
The song "Rest in Peace" by Original Television Soundtrack is from the hit TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Initially written and performed by the character Spike, it speaks of his relationship with Buffy, the show's protagonist, who he has fallen in love with. The lyrics tell of Spike's death and how he wishes to rest in peace, but also how Buffy's presence brings him back to "life" and reignites feelings within him.
The opening lines, "I died, so many years ago. But you can make me feel like it isn't so. Why you come to be with me, I think I finally know," tells us that Spike's death happened a long time ago, and his feelings towards Buffy have made him feel alive again. However, he understands that Buffy is ashamed of her feelings for him, and he cannot find peace until those feelings change. The chorus of the song repeats Spike's desire to be left alone to rest in peace, as he struggles with his love for Buffy and the pain it causes him.
The final verse talks about Spike's unrequited love for Buffy, and how it tortures him. He pleads with her to let him rest in peace, but also laments the fact that he cannot move on from his feelings for her. Overall, the song captures the emotional complexity of Spike's relationship with Buffy and his internal struggle to find peace.
Line by Line Meaning
I died
I passed away
So many years ago
It happened a long time ago
You can make me feel
Like it isn't so
You have the ability to make me forget that I'm dead
Why you come to be with me
I think I finally know
I understand why you visit me
You're scared
Ashamed of what you feel
You're frightened and embarrassed about your emotions
And you can't tell the ones you love
You know they couldn't deal
You can't confide in your loved ones because they wouldn't understand
A whisper in a dead man's ear
It doesn't make it real
Whispering to a deceased person won't make it a reality
That's great
But I don't wanna play
I acknowledge your reasons, but I don't want to participate
'Cause being with you touches me
More than I can say
Spending time with you affects me deeply
And since I'm only dead to you
I'm saying stay away
To you, I'm just a dead person, so leave me alone
And let me rest in peace
Allow me to find peace in death
You know you got a willing slave
And you just love to play the thought
That you might misbehave
You have someone devoted to you and enjoy the idea of acting irresponsibly
But 'til you do
I'm telling you
Stop visiting my grave
And let me rest in peace
Until you act on your desires, stop coming to my grave and let me find peace
I know I should go
But I follow you
Like a man posessed
I am aware that I should move on, but I am unable to stop following you
There's a traitor here
Beneath my breast
There is betrayal within me
And it hurts me more
Than you've ever guessed
It causes me more pain than you realize
If my heart could beat
It would break my chest
But I can see
You're unimpressed
If I were still alive, my heart would break from the pain, but you are unfazed
So leave me be!
Stop bothering me
Why won't you
Let me rest in peace?
I am pleading with you to let me find peace in death
Contributed by Zachary S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.