Well this might go off on an odd tangent.
My submission: The Weight by the Band.
Line: “My bag / back is sinking low and I do believe it’s time.”
The whole song is a set up to this and it is my wife who witnessed several animals dying -who wanted to go off some place alone and wait (weight -get it?) for the end to come- who sensed and accepted the finality of the moment and chose to accept it with quiet dignity.
Well that’s how I want to go and this song always brings me to this.
My example might not be in the Top 10, altho it is up there, but the part I bolded reminded me of it.
In Marian by the Sisters of Mercy, there is a verse that describes the process of drowning. And at the end of the verse, it mentions “Marian, I think I’m drowning/this sea is killing me.” I think it was genius to put the thesis of the verse at the end, rather than the beginning, sort of an inverted structure.
[hijack]Of course, the first and only time I heard their “Temple of Love”, I didn’t know who it was or what it was called, but by the singing and the beat and the fact it was one of their more “popular” songs caused me to think thusly:
Yeah, so the trick can be overused, but The Weight, which I also haven’t heard, seems like a good example from your description.
For those who believe in some sort of immortal soul leaving their body at death:
“I … ain’t got no body, NO BODY!”
Nature’s Way by Spirit. Not particularly deep lyrics, but sung very movingly. It seemed to be on the radio a lot when my first wife passed away, so I’ve always made that connection.
Jackson Browne, “For a Dancer.”
Nothing can be more poignant or evocative of the realization that a loved one is dying than the old song “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen”, a song about an old Irishman telling his dying wife that someday he will take her back to the Ireland they emigrated from 50 years ago when they were a spry, young couple in love, even if it is only to bury her.
Warren Zevon, Keep Me In Your Heart For Awhile .
Warren Zevon - Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
Kansas - Dust in the Wind
Try Not to Breathe by R.E.M. blows me away:
I will try not to burden you.
I can hold these inside. I will hold my breath
Until all these shivers subside,
Just look in my eyes.
Actually, several songs on Auotomatic for the People by R.E.M. are contemplations on death.
Sweetness Follows and Man in the Moon also qualify.
I suppose I can expect a rotten-tomato shower if I bring up “Seasons in the Sun”?
(I seriously hate that song.)
Robin
“Do you Realize?” by the Flaming Lips.
I cast thee out, Spawn of Satan!
why? Why did you do it?
I’ve never pitted another member but this might just be cause.
Oh, and if we’re including songs about death of a loved one, let’s not forget Paint It, Black by The Rolling Stones.
Winter Born by Cruxshadows Read the entire lyrics to get the full flavor of the song, but quoting the last lines
Rick, you have been reading John Ringo’s Paladin of Shadows books, right?
the Microphones - “I can’t believe you actually died”
“Chemo Limo”, by Regina Spektor. It’s about a woman who decides to end her chemotherapy treatments so she can live her final days in luxury. Most of my grandparents died after lengthy bouts of cancer so I can really empathize with the song. It captures the feeling of helplessness and cynicism that you have toward the doctors (“the doctor went and had a talk with my boss/something about insurance policies/they kept the door closed at all times…they said ‘you’ll be ok anyway’ and I smiled because I’d known it all the while”.
The Eels, “Last Stop: This Town”. It’s about a person who died, but stays around a while to visit “the dearly bereft.” Beautiful song.
Oh yeah. Links to lyrics can be a good thing.
Poi Dog Pondering has a couple of good songs about death.
There’s Bury Me Deep:
A lifetime of accomplishments of which the dirt knows none,
only in death can one truly return
Return the carrots, the apples and potatoes,
The chickens, the cows, the fish and tomatoes.
In one glorious swoop, let the deed be done
and bury me deep so that I can be one…
And then their song U Li La Lu has this (pretty funny) verse:
There’s a friend of mine who once said:
She said “If you’re ever around when someone dies
Look up and wave they’ll get a big kick out of it!”