Lay my Body Down
Rag N Bone Man Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴All I'm looking for
Is a little bit more rope
To wrap around my throat

I'm in trouble
I'm in trouble

And all I'm gasping for

Is one last breath of hope
To heal the hearts I broke

I'm in trouble
I'm in trouble

When you lay my body down
When you throw me in the ground
Don't be sorry
When you lay my body down
When you throw me in the ground

Save your prayers
Don't shed a tear, don't shed a tear for me
Save your prayers
Don't shed a tear, don't shed a tear for me
Turn your heart
To the trail
Of souls behind me
Save your prayers
Don't shed a tear, don't shed a tear for me

All the fearful eyes
Stay burned upon my mind
The gift they left behind

All my troubles
All my troubles

Still they find the words
Ring louder than my thoughts
Lay heavy as a curse

I'm in trouble
I'm in trouble

When you lay my body down
When you throw me in the ground
Don't be sorry
When you lay my body down
When I'm buried in the ground

These are my confessions
I'm singing out my dying words
These are my confessions
Make peace before I hit the dirt
These are my confessions
Hear all my sins laid down in verse
These are my confessions
Oh, these are my confessions

Save your prayers
Don't shed a tear, don't shed a tear for me
Save your prayers
Don't shed a tear, don't shed a tear for me
Turn your heart
To the trail
Of souls behind me

Save your prayers
Don't shed a tear, don't shed a tear for me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rag N Bone Man's "Lay My Body Down" are deeply introspective, as the singer reflects on his mistakes and their consequences. The song explores themes of guilt, regret, and redemption, all set against the backdrop of death and the inevitability of the grave. The opening lines set a somber tone, as the singer confesses that he's "in trouble" and is looking for "a little bit more rope to wrap around my throat." This image of self-harm suggests that the singer is overwhelmed by his mistakes and doesn't see a way out.

The chorus is a plea to those who will bury him to "save their prayers" and not "shed a tear" for him. Instead, he asks that they turn their hearts "to the trail of souls behind me," suggesting that his hope for redemption lies in the lessons that others can learn from his mistakes. He acknowledges the pain he's caused others, singing that he's "gasping for one last breath of hope to heal the hearts I broke." The repetition of "I'm in trouble" underscores the singer's sense of desperation and his recognition that he's responsible for his own downfall.

The second verse continues the idea of the consequences of the singer's mistakes, as he sings that "all the fearful eyes stay burned upon my mind" and that the "words ring louder than my thoughts." He longs for forgiveness and absolution, but recognizes that these are things he can't give himself. The repetition of the chorus, with its emphasis on not mourning the singer but instead using his example as a cautionary tale, suggests that he believes that his life might serve as a warning to others. Overall, the song is a powerful meditation on guilt, responsibility, and the hope for redemption.

Line by Line Meaning

All I'm looking for Is a little bit more rope To wrap around my throat
I am hoping to find some rope to end my own life.

And all I'm gasping for Is one last breath of hope To heal the hearts I broke
Despite my desire to end my life, I am still searching for hope to fix the relationships I have damaged.

When you lay my body down When you throw me in the ground Don't be sorry When you lay my body down When you throw me in the ground
When I am dead and buried, do not feel guilty for my death.

Save your prayers Don't shed a tear, don't shed a tear for me Turn your heart To the trail Of souls behind me
Instead of mourning my death, focus on the lives of others who have passed and offer your prayers and tears for them instead.

All the fearful eyes Stay burned upon my mind The gift they left behind
The fear and sadness of others is constantly on my mind, as is the impact I have had on them.

Still they find the words Ring louder than my thoughts Lay heavy as a curse
The words of those whom I have hurt echo louder in my mind than my own thoughts, bearing down on me like a curse.

These are my confessions I'm singing out my dying words Make peace before I hit the dirt Hear all my sins laid down in verse
I am confessing all of my sins and pleading for forgiveness before I pass away.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mark Sterling Crew, Daniel Robin Priddy, Daniel Campbell Smith, Rory Charles Graham

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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