Oh Death
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics

Oh death
The song is addressed to Death, personified as a being with the power to take life.

Oh death
The singer repeats the opening line, emphasizing the powerlessness of human beings in the face of death.

Won't you spare me over 'til another year
The singer pleads with Death to spare his life for at least another year.

Well what is this that I can't see
The singer speaks of his inability to see Death, who works in mysterious ways.

With ice cold hands taking hold of me
The singer describes Death's cold touch, which represents the finality and inevitability of death.

Well I am death none can excel
Death is portrayed as an all-powerful force that no one can outrun or overcome.

I'll open the door to heaven or hell
Death is described as the entrance through which souls enter either heaven or hell after dying.

Whoa death someone would pray
The singer acknowledges the fear and anguish that many people feel when facing death.

Could you wait to call me til another day
The singer implores Death to put off taking his life for at least another day.

The children pray the preacher preached
The singer describes the different ways in which people try to cope with death, such as turning to religion.

Time and mercy is out of your reach
The singer acknowledges that Death is a force that operates beyond human control and compassion.

I'll fix your feet til you can't walk
The singer describes the ways in which Death can cripple a person's body, rendering them unable to move or control their own physical being.

I'll lock your jaw til you can't talk
Death is described as robbing people of their ability to communicate or express themselves.

I'll close your eyes so you can't see
The singer describes the way in which Death takes away a person's ability to perceive the world around them.

This very hour come and go with me
Death is portrayed as something that can strike at any moment, without warning or prediction.

In death I come to take the soul
Death is described as the force that separates a person's soul from their body, taking one while leaving the other behind.

Leave the body and leave it cold
The singer emphasizes the finality of death, as the body is left behind without the spark of life that animates it.

To drop the flesh off of the frame
Death is described as the process by which the physical body - mere flesh - is separated from the self.

The earth and worms both have a claim
The inevitable decay of the body after death is emphasized, as the earth and its inhabitants will ultimately consume the flesh.

My mother came to my bed
The singer describes a personal experience of someone facing death, making the song more relatable for listeners.

Place a cold towel upon my head
The singer describes a common practice used to comfort the dying, emphasizing the vulnerability of those facing death.

My head is warm my feet are cold
The singer describes the physical sensations of the dying, emphasizing the disconnection between mind and body that occurs at death.

Death is a movin upon my soul
The singer personifies death as an active force that is coming for his soul.

Oh death how you're treatin' me
The singer expresses his fear and pain in the face of death, making the song a powerful expression of human mortality.

You close my eyes so I can't see
The singer's dependence on his senses highlights his vulnerability in the face of death.

Well you're hurtin' my body you make me cold
The singer describes the physical pain that often accompanies the dying process.

You run my life right out of my soul
The singer suggests that death robs life of its meaning and spiritual essence.

Oh death please consider my age
The singer pleas with Death to take his youth into account when deciding whether or not to end his life.

Please don't take me at this stage
The singer begs for more time to live, emphasizing the fear of death that many people feel as they age.

My wealth is all at your command
The inevitability of death is emphasized by the fact that no amount of wealth can prevent it from coming.

If you'll remove your icy hands
The singer suggests that there may be some way to placate or negotiate with Death, even if it is ultimately futile.

Oh the young the rich or poor
The singer acknowledges that death is an equalizer that affects everyone, regardless of their status in life.

All alike to me you know
Death is portrayed as a force that is indifferent to human distinctions and differences.

No wealth no land no silver or gold
The singer emphasizes the idea that material possessions cannot prevent death or even provide comfort in the face of it.

Nothin' satisfies my but your soul
The final lines of the song underline the idea that death is an inevitable part of life, and nothing can truly satisfy human beings except for the knowledge that their soul will live on after death.

Won't you spare me over 'til another year
The song ends as it began, with the singer pleading with Death to delay his inevitable end for just a little while longer.

Won't you spare me over 'til another year
The final line of the song is repeated, underscoring the singer's fear and desperation in the face of death.