Obituary
Simon Joyner Lyrics
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I went looking for some mercy but everybody's closed on Sundays
I ran out of love so I went looking for someone to refuse me
To turn a sharp corner and loose me but the sidewalk was empty
I ran out of songs to sing so I wrote an obituary to the tune of "Goodnight Irene"
Then I washed my stone hands in the sink
I ran out of changes so I went looking for someone to paint me
To preserve my frozen face
Preserve it for posterity yes
Preserve it for eternity no
Preserve it for posterity
A still life
The opening lines of Simon Joyner's song "Obituary" paint a picture of a man who has hit rock bottom, lost all hope and is contemplating ending his life. He confesses that he has run out of luck and is now looking for someone to kill him. He is desperate for mercy and help, but soon realizes that even the avenues that he thought could offer solace, such as a church, are closed on Sundays. It's a hauntingly dark image of a person who has hit rock bottom and feels totally alone and abandoned.
The second verse reveals that the singer has lost all enthusiasm for life, including his passion for music. He's run out of songs to sing and instead writes his own obituary to the tune of the traditional folk song "Goodnight Irene." Furthermore, he finds himself empty of resources and seeking someone to "paint" him or preserve his life in some way. The image of a "frozen face" and a "still life" suggest that he feels already dead inside and seeks a way to immortalize his existence before he fades away completely. The overall theme of the song is bleak and desperate, and it speaks of a man who has lost all hope and is on the brink of taking his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I ran out of luck so I went looking for someone to kill me
I was so down on my luck that I wanted someone or something to end my life.
I went looking for some mercy but everybody's closed on Sundays
I sought kindness or forgiveness, but was disappointed to find that even the most compassionate are unavailable at times.
I ran out of love so I went looking for someone to refuse me
I was so devoid of love that I sought out someone to reject me and confirm my feelings of inadequacy.
To turn a sharp corner and loose me but the sidewalk was empty
I hoped for a dramatic change of direction in my life, but was met with emptiness and loneliness instead.
I ran out of songs to sing so I wrote an obituary to the tune of "Goodnight Irene"
I had nothing left to say through music, so I felt inclined to write a piece about the ending of my life.
Then I washed my stone hands in the sink
Once I had done so, I felt a sense of finality, and I washed my hands as a metaphorical reference to my actions.
I ran out of changes so I went looking for someone to paint me
Having gone through every life change possible, I wanted someone to draw me in order to showcase my stagnation.
To preserve my frozen face
I wanted to preserve the facsimile of myself that had remained motionless for years.
Preserve it for posterity yes
I wanted a record of my previous self to potentially be passed down through generations.
Preserve it for eternity no
However, deep down I knew that even a portrait could not preserve me permanently, as nothing lasts forever.
Preserve it for posterity
I still held onto the hope that some part of me would be retained for future generations to learn about.
A still life
In the end, all that may remain of me is a lifeless statue or painting, a monument to my past self.
Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.