Michael
Tiffany Pollack & Eric Johanson Lyrics
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About 6'3
Military boy
At the age of 19
Not quite sure what he's doing here
Not sure where he's from
But he's mine now, that death is done
Built like a tree
Just a baby boy
At the age of 19
Seems the needle got him here
It's a damn shame it took this one
But he's mine now, that death is done
I made my incision
Bleed him free
Lullaby baby boy
At the age of 19
Good distribution, got some color in his ears
Make him pretty for when his mama comes
But he's mine now, that death is done
Funeral procession
On bended knee
Military boy
At the age of 19
Calling for his mama, when the moon was clear
She ain't here baby and your time has come
You're no longer mine, and death has won.
The lyrics of the song "Michael" by Tiffany Pollack and Eric Johanson describe a mortician performing an autopsy on a young military boy named Michael, who is just nineteen years old. The opening line "Lay him on the table / About 6'3" sets the scene for the rest of the song. The mortician proceeds to describe Michael's physical attributes, calling him "built like a tree" and "perfect condition" which make the tragedy of his death all the more senseless. The mortician acknowledges that he doesn't know where Michael is from, but now he belongs to him, in death.
The second verse talks about the mortician performing the autopsy, "making the incision" and "bleeding him free". He describes Michael as a "lullaby baby boy" which is a heartbreaking juxtaposition to the autopsy process. The mortician even takes the time to "make him pretty" for when Michael's mother comes to see him, which is perhaps the most poignant part of the song. The final verse reveals that Michael's death was in fact, an avoidable result of drug use. The reference to Michael calling out for his mother just before he died is particularly heart-wrenching. The song ends with the realization that in the end, the mortician cannot keep Michael, and that death has won.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay him on the table
Beginning a medical procedure by placing the deceased person on the operating table
About 6'3
Describing the height of the person who passed away
Military boy
Noting that the person was in the military
At the age of 19
Mentioning the young age of the deceased
Not quite sure what he's doing here
Acknowledging that the singer is unsure of how the person came to be in their care
Not sure where he's from
Admitting that the singer is unaware of the person's origins
But he's mine now, that death is done
Declaring that, regardless of how he got there, the deceased person is now under the singer's care
Perfect condition
Describing the state of the body as pristine
Built like a tree
Comparing the person to a strong, solid oak tree
Just a baby boy
Emphasizing again how young the person was
Seems the needle got him here
Speculating that the person's cause of death may have been drug-related
It's a damn shame it took this one
Expressing the singer's disappointment and sadness that this young person had to die
But he's mine now, that death is done
Reiterating that the person is now under the singer's care, regardless of the tragedy of his death
I made my incision
Explaining the medical procedure of opening up the person's body for autopsy
Bleed him free
Describing the process of removing fluids from the body during autopsy
Lullaby baby boy
Using an ironic nickname to address the deceased person, since he has passed onto a peaceful place
At the age of 19
Once again, mentioning the young age of the deceased
Good distribution, got some color in his ears
Noting the normalcy of fluid distribution and oxygenation in the body, implying that the person had not suffered a traumatic death
Make him pretty for when his mama comes
Preparing the body for viewing by loved ones, especially the grieving mother
But he's mine now, that death is done
Stressing again that, despite the care taken to make the deceased presentable, the person is still deceased
Funeral procession
The somber journey taken to a funeral, probably involving the deceased's military comrades
On bended knee
A way of showing respect or deference, as would be appropriate at a funeral
Military boy
Remarking again that the person was in the military, an honorable profession especially notable at a military funeral
At the age of 19
Reiterating the tragic youth of the person who passed away
Calling for his mama, when the moon was clear
Imagining the person reaching out for comfort in a moment of fear, such as death, using the visual cue of a clear moon
She ain't here baby and your time has come
Acknowledging that the person's mother is not there to comfort him, and that the person's time on earth has ended
You're no longer mine, and death has won.
A realization that even though the deceased was once under the singer's care, death has now taken him and erased any ownership or control
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: ERIC JOHANSON, JACK JOSEPH MIELE, TIFFANY POLLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind