Jeff Heiskell, the singer, and later members Dave Jenkins and Paul Noe formed the totally unknown but great Doubters Club that recorded for the Disgraceland label in 1995 and then broke up when Jenkins and Noe ran off to Nashville to form a (terrible) mod-rock band that failed (miserably). Jeff reformed the Judybats in 2000 with the album "'00" and subsequently rocked Knoxville, Chicago, Baltimore, and all points in-between on numerous small tours promoting their album and their later EP "Six Pack of New Tracks".
Currently, Jeff is working with Heiskell, a band formed with Mike Hairrell (percussion), Doug Hairrell (guitar), and Rob Bell (bass), all members of The second iteration of the Judybats.
My Dead Friend
The Judybats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was listening to Ricky Lee, some song about sad young men
CHORUS
A chainsaw buzzed when I died
I cried seven minutes for you, seven long drawn sixty-second sobs
Grief, a simple thing; add water to the sorrow and wait
Darkness precipitate, ruin my room and wet my face
CHORUS
You'd know that better than I, my dead friend
Stepping out the door, through the trees
A single light
ANd I heard the sound, some greatness crashing down over the rise
CHORUS
Is it really funny how time flies by?
You'd know better than I, my dead friend
Ice skating in an hour glass, waiting for it all to pas
My dead friend
CHORUS
The Judybats's song My Dead Friend is a poignant meditation on grief and loss. It opens with a description of a peaceful scene, with fireflies accompanying the moon and the singer listening to a song by Ricky Lee Jones about sad young men. However, this peace is shattered by the chorus, which declares that "a chainsaw buzzed when I died" and reveals that the singer has been crying for their dead friend for seven minutes. The song explores the nature of grief, describing it as a "simple thing" that can be intensified by adding water to the sorrow and waiting for darkness to "ruin" the room and "wet" the face.
The second verse begins with the singer stepping out into the night, and seeing a single light in the distance. There is also the sound of something great crashing down over the rise, which suggests a sense of finality or closure. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the idea that time passes quickly and that the dead friend knew this better than the singer. The final line of the song is "Ice skating in an hourglass, waiting for it all to pass", which captures the feeling of being stuck in time and waiting for the pain of grief to ease.
Overall, My Dead Friend is a powerful and moving song about the experience of losing someone close. The lyrics are poetic and evocative, creating a sense of atmosphere that draws the listener in and immerses them in the singer's emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
There were fireflies keeping the moon company
The serene night was brightened by a swarm of fireflies, peacefully coexisting with the moon.
I was listening to Ricky Lee, some song about sad young men
I was listening to a melancholic tune by Ricky Lee about the struggles of youth.
CHORUS
The chorus repeats twice throughout the song.
A chainsaw buzzed when I died
A violent and traumatic experience occurred at the moment of my death, symbolized by the sound of a chainsaw.
I cried seven minutes for you, seven long drawn sixty-second sobs
I mourned deeply for you, shedding tears for a full seven minutes, each sob lasting a minute long.
Grief, a simple thing; add water to the sorrow and wait
Grief is a basic emotion, but when combined with tears, it becomes a waiting game for the intense feelings to dissipate.
Darkness precipitate, ruin my room and wet my face
The darkness of sadness and grief have taken over my life to the point of destruction, leaving me in tears.
CHORUS
The chorus repeats twice throughout the song.
Is it really funny how time flies by?
The concept of time passing quickly may seem humorous, but it is also bittersweet.
You'd know that better than I, my dead friend
As someone who has passed away and no longer experiences the flow of time, you likely understand the fleeting nature of life better than I do.
Stepping out the door, through the trees
Walking out into nature, surrounded by trees.
A single light
In the midst of darkness, a solitary light shines.
And I heard the sound, some greatness crashing down over the rise
A loud, majestic noise can be heard in the distance, as if something truly immense is coming closer.
CHORUS
The chorus repeats twice throughout the song.
Ice skating in an hour glass, waiting for it all to pass
The feeling of being stuck perpetually in time, like skating on ice within an hour glass, waiting for life to move forward.
My dead friend
The artist is addressing their deceased friend.
CHORUS
The chorus repeats twice throughout the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVE JENKINS, ED WINTERS, JEFF HEISKELL, JOHNNY SUGHRUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind