Death Has Died
Rising Beyond Grief: Andy Mineo's Poignant Reflection on Loss
Lyrics
It was just last week that my grandma died
Reflecting on the recent death of the speaker's grandmother.
It's been years since I've seen family on my fathers side
Expressing a long separation from the father's side of the family.
A bitter sweet, moment but tell me why
Describing the mixed emotions of the moment.
Nothing less then the sting of death brought us together
Death served as a unifying force for the family.
I sat and listened to the priest tell lies
Critical of the priest's dishonest words during the funeral.
To appease loved ones in their seats
False comforting to satisfy the mourners.
When you looking at a face that's weaping
Observing someone in deep grief.
The grim truth wont bring'em no peace
Truth about death doesn't bring peace to the mourning.
So I put on, all white gloves like Mr. Jackson
Symbolic use of white gloves reminiscent of Michael Jackson.
Carried the casket to the Cadillac then
Participating in the funeral rituals.
I realised this is the first time that me and my brothers ever did something together
Realization of the rare unity among the speaker and brothers.
Whatever, I'm grown now come on let's just put on the smiles
Choosing to put on a facade and maintain positivity.
And take pictures, take pictures
Embracing the moment through photos.
Uh
Transition in the narrative.
Eat this humble pie then leave them dishes
Accepting humility and moving forward.
For somebody else to clean 'em until I see ya'll again
Leaving the responsibilities for others to handle.
(Breakin' down, breakin' down)
Repeated chorus emphasizing the temporary nature of struggles.
Everything here is breaking down
-(Br-br-Breakin' down, breakin' down)
-It's all breaking down down down
-(Breakin' down, breakin' down)
-Everything here is breaking down
-(Breakin' down, breakin' down)
-But this wont be forever no
-You used to make me cry
Hopeful perspective on God wiping away tears and making things right.
But one day He'll wipe every tear from our eyes
-He'll come make all things right
-And we'll sing death has died
-But until that day
Repetition of the idea that troubles are temporary.
Until that day
-Oh, until that day
-Oh, oh, oh
-This won't be forever
-Until that day
-Oh, until that day
-Oh, oh, oh,
-This won't be for ever
Reiteration that difficulties are not permanent.
I hopped off the plane
Describing a distressing scene on a TV screen related to a tragedy.
My God, what a scene that I seen on that TV screen
-People huddled round, hands on they mouth
-Not again, same problem, it hit a new town
-26 dead, 20 of 'em kids
Specifics about the tragic incident, mentioning the victims.
Where do you begin when some lives just ended?
Raising the question of how to respond to sudden loss.
And everybody got the question:
Various questions about the root causes of societal problems.
If God's so good how He let this happen?
-Is it mental health? Is it gun control?
-Is it we make superstars out of animals?
-Is it the movies we make? The video games?
-I dunno, but God I want an antidote
-All I know is this world is broken
Acknowledging the broken state of the world due to human sin.
Our sin is the reason it ain't like it's supposed to
-Words fall short tryna comfort the grieving
-But you gotta know that there's hope to believe in
-One day my God gon' crack the sky
Expressing faith in God's eventual intervention and justice.
He gon' bottle up every tear that we ever cried
-Bring truth to every lie, justice for ever crime
-All our shame will be gone and we'll never have to hide
-No more broken hearts, no more broken homes
Painting a picture of a future without pain, suffering, or death.
No more lockin' doors, no more cops patrollin'
-No abusive words, or abusive touches
-No more cancerous cells that'll take our loved ones
-No more hungry kids, no more natual disaster
-No child will ever have to ask where his dad is
-No funerals where we wear all black
-And death will be dead and we'll lock the casket
-Yes!
Expression of affirmation.
You used to make me cry (you used to make me cry)
Repetition of the chorus with additional emphasis on hope and the temporary nature of pain.
But one day He'll wipe every tear from our eyes (every tear from our eyes)
-He'll come make all things right (all things right)
-And we'll sing death has died
-But until that day
-You used to make me cry (you used to make me cry)
-But one day He'll wipe every tear from our eyes (every tear from our eyes)
-He'll come make all things right
-And we'll sing death has died
-But until that day
-Until that day
-Oh, until that day
-Oh, oh, oh
-This won't be forever
-Until that day
-Oh, until that day
-Oh, oh, oh,
-This won't be forever
Final statement emphasizing the transience of difficulties.
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