Dead man, were you ever alive?
Or was I just a seed
Buried deep inside some woman you wed
Right before you crawled out of her bed
And crept down the hall?
Did you think of me?
Did you even for a second hesistate in the doorway?
It's just something that I'd like to know
Though I'd still love you if you told me
That you just walked away

My God, what a world you love
Where men bury their sons
And without thought just walk away

And my mother's heart breaks like the water inside of her

Dead man, is it being high that makes you alive?
It makes you leave behind
Three boys and a wife in '89
As the track marks inched their way up your arm
My mother taught my brothers and I
Not to call you daddy
But to call you Father

But I believe there is something here to be learned of grace
Cause I can't help but love you
Even with a heart that breaks
Like the promises that you made


Lyrics submitted by SHUREEK

The Widow Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Capitol CMG Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Widow song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

38 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    Wow, this song is so emotional. As cities Burn is such a great band.

    slightleystoopidon July 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yea this song is so emotional i totally agree... such a good song i was wondering about the meaning if when he's saying

    "and I not to call you daddy, but to call you Father"

    does he mean God by saying father? or does he mean his real dad? cause i thought both would be good cause i guess this song is about his dad who left his family and all so call him father instead of daddy would mean like his family love him but not enough to call him daddy which is more affectionate. and the other meaning could be that instead of calling his dad when they would have problems or issues, her mom taught them to "talk", to call God instead. and Father would mean God. I hope that was clear enough lol what do you guys think?

    guitarheroon July 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think that line refers to his physical father. Any man has the capability to be a father; daddy implies affection and warmth. His mom is telling him (and his bothers) that the man that helped bring them into the world, is not their dad, simply their "father." However, in the same line he addresses his mom as "mother" - just thought of that. God can be called Daddy as well, He is personal too.

    The line: "But I believe there is something here to be learned of grace, 'cause I can't help but love you" is awesome. It parallels God's love to us - we can love simply because He loved us first (because He chose to).

    amishmanon July 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like this song so much I almost want to have a bad relationship with my dad to like it a million times more. Of course it's not worth it, but almost.

    soulreaverboton July 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I really think this song has alot to do with is God really Existant. I mean if he was alive Why would such terrible things how to such good people?

    "My God, what a world you love Where men bury their sons and without thought just walk away"

    Just a thought.

    poisonawellon July 24, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think the song like all theirs are showing their firm belief in God but at the same time wondering how he loves them through all their human error and in this song is about how they use that idea grace to use on one another

    whap whapon July 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about a son who's father has died, but he never knew him, but even throughout everything he still loves him.

    In the first verse he talks about if he (the son) was conceived on with a concious decision or was he conceived in premartial sex, as in an accident. But he'd love him, because he's his father not because of the person he was.

    The god the world you love part, is obviously about how god loves everyone despite what happens, an example of what the son should do.

    Dead man is it being high.. That refers to how he did drugs, preferable heroin, as in refrences to track marks. The Daddy/father line is exactly what amish said, so i don't have to explain it.

    And the last part speaks the same as the 'god the world you love' part, just a continuation for the sake of lyrics.

    This is such an amazing/emotional song.

    DarkerShadeofWinteron July 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think DarkerShadeofWinter's got it right; I don't think this song questions God but rather the speaker's Earthly father. In fact, it's God's grace and natural goodness that keeps the speaker from feeling any ill will towards his father - he still loves him despite the fact that the father has obviously had premarital sex (and alludes to maybe him having affairs). Definitely about sex as the term "bury sons" is more of an agricultural reference as opposed to a funeral reference. It's making an analogy to planting seeds in various women and the laack of care the father has for the children he fathers through his various sexual encounters (did you even for a second hesitate in the doorway?). The tracks-up-the-arms image introduces a drug element to the scenario indicating the father was also under the influence of drugs and it is either the addiction, the affairs, or both that led the father to leave his wife, the speaker, and the speaker's brothers in '89. Good image with the Mother's heart breaking like the water inside her when she's giving birth. And despite the seemingly worthless character of the father, the song has an amazing message of forgiveness and love despite every offense imaginable with the last line:

    But I believe there is something here to be learned of grace, 'cause I can't help but love you, even with a heart that breaks like the promises you made

    Ghost33on October 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My buds talked to Cody and its about his father who was a crack addict and left him, his mom, and his brothers. amazing song.

    ChristisnotFASHIONon October 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, I'd have to disagree with DarkerShadeofWinter on it being about a father that's passed away. The "dead man" reference is to how his father is pretty much dead to him.

    epyon346on March 08, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.