Jamie
Eternal Melodies of Loss and Transformation in Kevin Morby's 'Jamie'
Lyrics
Jamie was a friend of mine
Jamie was a friend of the singer
He was twenty-five when he died
Jamie passed away at the age of twenty-five
He was twenty-five when he died
Reiteration of Jamie's age at the time of death
And he'd hate me, but I get angry
Despite potential conflicts, the singer feels anger over Jamie's death
Well, I wish my friend was still alive, oh Lord
The singer expresses a longing for Jamie to still be alive
Oh, I wish my friend was still alive
Reiteration of the desire for Jamie's continued existence
And when he died, oh, they took him to his grave
Details of Jamie's funeral procession and burial
And they carried him there on the back of a parade
Jamie's body is carried in a parade to the grave
On the back of a parade
Reiteration of the procession mode
And when he died, they sent his spirit to the sky
After Jamie's death, his spirit is sent to the sky
Then he came back down with a piano in his mouth
Upon returning, Jamie has a metaphorical piano in his mouth
A piano in his mouth
Reiteration of the piano metaphor
Oh, Desi was a friend of mine
Introduction of another friend named Desi
She's a mermaid now, mama
Desi is now metaphorically described as a mermaid
She's a mermaid now, mm
Reiteration of Desi's mermaid transformation
In the morning, it gets lonely
The morning brings loneliness after Desi's transformation
Well, I wish my friends were still alive
The singer expresses a wish for friends, including Jamie and Desi, to still be alive
Oh, I wish my friends were still alive
Reiteration of the desire for friends' continued existence
And when she died, oh, they took her to her grave
Details of Desi's funeral procession and burial
And they carried her there on the back of a parade
Desi's body is carried in a parade to the grave
On the back of a parade
Reiteration of the procession mode
And when she died, they sent her spirit to the sky
After Desi's death, her spirit is sent to the sky
Then it came back down with a piano in her mouth
Upon returning, Desi has a metaphorical piano in her mouth
A piano in her mouth
Reiteration of the piano metaphor for Desi
And when they died they, oh, took 'em to their graves
General reference to the deaths of both Jamie and Desi
And they carried them there on the back of a parade
Both bodies are carried in a parade to their graves
On the back of a parade
Reiteration of the procession mode
And when they died, they sent their spirits to the sky
After their deaths, their spirits are sent to the sky
Then they came back down with a piano in their mouths
Upon returning, both have metaphorical pianos in their mouths
A piano in their mouths
Reiteration of the piano metaphor for both Jamie and Desi
And the music did come out
Music emanates from the metaphorical pianos in their mouths
The piano in their mouths
Reiteration of the musical aspect
Oh, Jamie was a friend of mine
Reiteration of Jamie being a friend who passed away at the age of twenty-five
He was twenty-five when he died, oh Lord
Reiteration of the singer's wish for Jamie to still be alive
And I wish my friend was still alive
Final reiteration of the desire for Jamie's continued existence
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