The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I'm comin' up only to hold you under
And comin' up only to show you're wrong
And to know you is hard, we wonder
To know you all wrong, we won
Ooh
Ooh
Really too late to call, so we wait for
Morning to wake you, is all we got
And to know me as hardly golden
Is to know me all wrong, they warn
At every occasion, I'll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral
At every occasion, oh, I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral
I'm comin' up only to show you down for
And comin' up only to show you're wrong
To the outside, the dead leaves lay on the lawn
For they don't have trees to hang upon
Ooh
Ooh
At every occasion, I'll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral
At every occasion, oh, I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral
And comin' up only to show you're wrong
And to know you is hard, we wonder
To know you all wrong, we won
Ooh
Ooh
Really too late to call, so we wait for
Morning to wake you, is all we got
And to know me as hardly golden
Is to know me all wrong, they warn
At every occasion, I'll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral
At every occasion, oh, I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral
I'm comin' up only to show you down for
And comin' up only to show you're wrong
To the outside, the dead leaves lay on the lawn
For they don't have trees to hang upon
Ooh
Ooh
At every occasion, I'll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral
At every occasion, oh, I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral
Lyrics submitted by kylethelion, edited by escp99, lamy2, TransientLight, tigerfishy, julibug
The Funeral Lyrics as written by Christopher Early Benjamin Bridwell
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
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“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.
Head > Heels
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“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.
Ok, i know that songs mean different things to everyone, and sometimes it's easy to think that a song is specifically about something you personally understand or have been through.
In this case, however, I am almost sure I understand this song.
My girlfriend of 6 years became addicted to heroin a good few years back. She was intelligent, beautiful, and had the best sense of humor, but her self-hatred brought about on her by her father was absolutely crushing to her soul. I knew after about a year of knowing her, that she would in fact somehow die from something she did to herself. At first I thought suicide, but as she slipped into heroin addiction I realized what really was going to happen.
I talked to her mother about this time and time again, as we tried to find a solution but nothing worked. We always said that we were just "waiting for the funeral" as we cried and tried to cope with the situation. We knew it was coming, and it was something we had already accepted in a weird way before it even happened. The more and more I see this happen to others, the more I see there story is the same, and these lyrics are just so dead on. Before I ever heard this song, these events transpired and when I heard the song for the first time it almost put me to tears and I could have sworn it was written for me (yeah right I know, but I do think it was for people in my situation) Heroin kills many people who are full of self-hatred and recklessly abuse the dangerous drug because they do not care about themselves or their life.
"Really too late to call So we wait for the morning to wake you That's all we got"
The door is locked. Is she dead? Or has she just OD'd somewhat and is so passed out she is not awake or cannot hear the phone or door. These are the worst mornings, nail biting as you assume the worst. Always ready and thinking of that goddamn funeral that is so imminent.
"I'm coming up only to show you down for I'm coming up only to show you wrong"
She is making a mistake, I've tried using the drug myself to get on her level and try to explain, or at least understand more so I can help... I've tried everything.
And in the end, the funeral still comes as you knew it would. And it's a billion day funeral because the sorrow is still so strong as you realize how naive and upset everyone around you is. You thought you were ready for this day, but as it turns out, you re-live all the sorrow a million times each time you see someone cry and want an explanation for how this all happened. Longest day of my life, and the one I had anticipated the most.
Throughout it all, at every occasion, we were ready for the funeral. But it didn't make it any better. Very sad song.
I could be totally wrong. But my experiences made this song mean a lot to me, and it almost seemed too coincidental, but then again who knows?
Your story brought me to tears. I deeply sympathize that this happened to you. I had no idea what this song meant, only that it was deep. I hope you're doing well, thank you for sharing.
Thank you. I made an account just to say that. I'm a guy but quite the same as the girl you lost, 'if you love me, let me go' doesn't work in my experience. I hate that I'm hurting people. Okay, I didn't mean to get all weird; by chance your words were what I needed to hear during a tiny window of listening. It's wrong for me to block it out; my ex is now going through what did
That is a really good interpretation. I don't have a specific experience like this, but it's the same meaning I took from the song. Not sure why your comment is flagged...
'just want to say thank you for sharing.<br /> :)
I got married very young. I wish I knew then what I know now. My ex wife was alcoholic. She was actually a recovered alcoholic when we met but I didn´t know any of this until I tried her orange juice one early morning, before going to work, to find out it was a screwdriver. And that is when she opened up to me. But from then on she did not have to hide her drinking and she was drunk all day long. <br /> <br /> She was two completely different people, a beautiful person when sober, a monster when drunk. I was not ready to cope with that. She was, like in your girlfriend´s case, not being able to deal with a terrible childhood and I could not help her either. I hope she is ok right now. I have not heard from her in more than two decades.<br /> <br /> I made a similar interpretation of this song, but I also perceive as an important element in the lyrics the typical illogical "guilt" we, the impotent people next to addicts, feel. It is a powerful, and beautiful song. Thanks for sharing your interpretation and your personal story. <br /> <br />
Thank you, Austinprod --- now I realize why this tune is so compelling to me. I've been playing the song over and over again. Sometimes I don't get the lyrics when I hear the words but my heart or soul gets "it". As a recovering addict, I lived the "wrong" life ... made the wrong decisions. Now that I'm in the program, I realize not all of us are going to make it. Even with the joy of watching human miracles, I can't do anything but be ready for the funeral as I see those go under.
@austinprod just created an account for your story. very moving. hope this song helps you with your grieving<br />
@austinprod This is really insightful. Amazing how experience teaches us things. I love this song, and think of it often having lost a nephew to suicide, but would not have been able to see it from your perspective. Nice.
@austinprod <br /> Your understanding of this song puts my thoughts into words. My best friend died on 1/4/15. She overdosed on heroin. I have struggled with her death on a daily basis and music helps alot. I am glad that someone else hears the same thing as I do when listening to this song.
@austinprod Thank you for sharing. Really gave a different perspective of the song.
@austinprod Sorry for your loss. I agree. I am watching someone slip away into addiction. Your words are comforting.
@austinprod I think it can also be generalized to just be waiting for the end of a relationship, knowing that it's going to end but just not knowing when. You know there is no way you can save it...
@austinprod I just created this account to show my gratitude , what happened to your girl was terribly wrong and I am sorry . Hope no one should ever have to go through what you already have.
@austinprod Beautiful and heartbreaking interpretation of the lyrics. They fit perfectly to your story, but for me the lyrics mean someting else. Over the last year I've lost so many people close to me for all kinds of reasons. Some to serious illnesses (the line: Really too late to call<br /> So we wait for the morning to wake you<br /> That's all we got", haunts me constantly), some to terrible accidents. All of them were too young to die. And every time the phone rings now, I prepare myself for the worst. I prepare for another funeral. And it's a horrible way to live, just waiting for the inevitable, hopeless. So, that's my story. Thank you for sharing yours.
@austinprod Jesus man. I made an account to reply to this. Really moving and really sad what you shared. <br /> <br /> I hope things have gotten better. I hope you're doing well.
@austinprod I still think of this. A lot. And you are absolutely right. Thank you for sharing. Anyone who has experienced the longterm dread and worry of losing someone can understand this song. It was written for us.
@austinprod yes. For me, it was my foster brother. But yes to ever single Word, I agree with every interpretation you make here. This is exactly What I hear in these lyrics. The waiting, the Grief and helplessness as you see it coming, and then the grief beyond Words when the day actually comes. The billion day funeral you're still not prepared for, after years of preparing. We share the same story.
i don't think it has anything to do with teasing someone you're obsessed with...
from what i gather, it's a lament; waiting for morning to wake the ones you love is all you've got left. It's too late to call, so we'll trust that in the morning that the people we care for will still be alive. but at every occasion, and at any time you're prepared for a funeral, prepared for the age when your loved ones start to die off.
very well said.
I think this is closest. I think when hes saying "im coming up only to hold you under" hes talking about someone really sick, and then they get better, only to get sick again, hence pulling everyone back under. And the part about trees and leaves? The leaves have the trees to hold their hope, they dont need to worry. Its a metaphor for hope, and giving up that hope, as in when you die.
to be honest i think your is my favorite review but i dont think that it explains the whole song... it works with some parts but not so much others unless you can explain<br /> -"I'm coming up only to hold you under<br /> I'm coming up only to show you wrong"<br /> and why hes ready to die as well.<br /> if youve got answers im all ears but im not seeing for everything he says, just some. pretty interputation though.
Whitetide is spot on in my opinion. Now for the beginning of the song it sounds to me like he is singing of someone he knows perhaps a family member that he doesn't have a good relationship with. The line "I'm coming up only to hold you under, I'm coming up only to show you wrong" To me says the person he is singing about doesn't agree with his entire way of life or perhaps treated him badly so the only interaction they would have would be negative. Holding them under could be a reference to his frustration with this person or he feels his presence holds this person down emotionally. "And to know you is hard and we wonder, to know you all wrong we were" He is saying being involved with this person is difficult because of the disagreements they have however he realizes he didn't fully know this person. Saying "we" leads me to believe hes speaking of a group of friends that know this person or his family and he is speaking of a member. "To know me as hardly golden is to know me all wrong, they were". He is reversing it on himself saying they don't know him as they make assumptions that he is "hardly golden" and they are wrong because they don't know what lies in his heart and mind. Death brings about the end of all the presumptions about one another and lets us know what truly matters "at every occasion one brilliant day funeral" this could also be the death of the presumptions. As leafs grow older they wither and fall from their tree. As humans get older most tend to lose hope I feel "to the outside, the dead leafs, they all blow before they died had trees to hang their hope" says this. "They all blow" also says how someone can get lost in this crazy mixed up world. This song speaks volumes to me as I have a very strained relationship with a family member, I think ill of him and I know he thinks ill of me. He treated my very badly so at this point I would only come up to hold him under.
I believe that perhaps this song is about the sun "Morning to wake you; it's all we got" means to me the sunrise "I'm coming up only to hold you under" means to me perhaps..rising to hold us under its life giving power..."I'm coming up only to show you wrong" to me means perhpas...all the bad antics carried out are mostly done at night no? in the day time all is bright and baddies are not seen as much...and of course "At every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral<br /> At every occasion once more is called the funeral<br /> At every occasion I'm ready for the funeral<br /> At every occasion one brilliant day funeral" to me means the sunset every single day <br />
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I agree with this interpretation (with both WhiteTide and Double). I believe the <br /> "I'm coming up only to hold you under, I'm coming up only to show you wrong" <br /> Is what you'd say if you had a bad relationship with someone you really loved. I'm showing up to your funeral because you thought I wouldn't. I'm coming because I have to, I'm coming for a variety of different reasons (all except the obvious that they loved the person, despite a tumultuous relationship). <br /> <br /> But at some point he's also saying, "to know me is hardly golden" and he's maybe admitting that it's not all their fault.
Actually everybody, if you go to triplej.net.au/mel/ there is a Program Highlights section which has an interview with the band where they talk about the meaning behind The Funeral. It's about dreading events like Christmas and birthdays because of all the pressure and stress which leads up to it, and feeling like maybe a funeral wouldn't be much worse. Anyway, follow the link and have a listen to the interview, it's pretty good.
THANK YOU for that informative link! In the interview he also mentioned that, like most BoH songs, it does go off-tangent a bit and may be deeper than just not enjoying social gatherings. But clearly, that's the original point of the song. <br /> <br /> I have to wonder if he twisted the lyrics a bit to refer to an actual funeral, though. "I'm coming up only to hold you under" is like he is choosing to attend the funeral as a final farewell (just being at the funeral is the admitting of death and achieving closure), thus, holding the deceased under ground. "We wait for morning to wake you": The mourning of the deceased often turns into the "wake" or rebirth of that person's soul in the memories of the living.
That meaning is only faintly suggested through the chorus. Regardless of what the band may have intended for the song to mean (and honestly it was a poor attempt at getting that across), I think the various other interpretations put forth here capture the true emotion that the song elicits.
@kittenangel The lyrics are really ambigous in my opinion. however i liike the fact that "we wait for morning to wake you" can be taken two ways... the other being we wait for mourning to wake you--as when someone passes is the only real time we think about death and how much time we have left...we need to wake up.
Always be prepared for the worst possible outcome? Just a random thought...
I have always interpreted this song to be as if a family were holding an intervention for a family member who is addicted... drink, drugs, whatever.... They've been in silence about it, and swept it under the rug until now, hence "i'm coming up only to hold you under, i'm coming up only to show you wrong"... they are only speaking out now to convince the family member that they need change.... all along they have not known the addicted person's true personality, only the drunken, or high behaviors "to know you is hard, we wonder".. and all along they have been wrong about them. "it's really too late to call so we wait for morning to wake you, it's all we've got" meaning, they should have done something or said something earlier, but didnt, and now the addiction is stronger than they are, and they dont know how to intervene, so they wait each day hoping and praying that the person will get better, change their life, but in the meantime, they have no control, and all they can do is pray the sun wakes them in the morning, and they are still alive. and the chorus, "at every occasion i'll be ready for the funeral" is knowing that any day, at any time, that family member may overdose, or die, and so every birthday, christmas, holiday, they wait for the phone call that the family member has died, and are already ready to accept that a funeral may be the only end to their addiction.... Such a sad song for those of us who have lived through this....
First time hearing the song I was thinking about the same things.<br /> After I saw the VideoClip to the the song I was sure.<br /> He's drinking almost the whole clip!<br /> <br /> If you beat all those thinngs, there's one more thing to beat:<br /> The feelings you have caused to the others by<br /> trying<br /> to<br /> die<br /> every<br /> day.<br /> <br /> btw I was the one to worry about in this situation...<br /> <br /> I'm fine now.<br /> <br /> Take care of yourself<br />
I also recently lost someone very dear to me to suicide, and interpreted the song through that lens. The first two verses simply illustrate how wrong the victim was to take their own life and that there are many people that care for and love them I think the chorus is describing the process of grieving that one must go through after any loss. "At every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral Every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral Every occasion, know I'm ready for the funeral At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral" I look at this "funeral" as the depression and heartache that follows loss, every single day seems like a struggle, and your mind keeps replaying the fateful events of the death and the funeral. The "one billion day funeral" is just describing that grief is a long journey, and the pain will go on for what seems like forever.
Overall, I think this is an absolutely beautiful song that can be interpreted in practically any situation, which is part of what makes it so great.
I also just lost my sister to suicide(coming up on 1 year annaversary), and this song just makes so much sense in that perspective
i think the song isn't lamenting over how you're ready to accept your loved ones' deaths. rather, i think it addresses the fact that we can't control our own death and when it happens, and that it is inevitable to all of us. i think it's a song about realizing your own death and being comfortable with the fact that death is imminent and can happen at any age and place. it sounds as if the singer has done all he has in life, and is ready to face death whenever it chooses to appear. it has a joyous approach to death somewhat, as if death is the process of being liberated. also, the song brings up points about family members when he mentions the "dead leaves" and the "tree." think of it as a family tree, where our own dead relatives may be dead, but their hearts live on in the rest of the family, just as the dead leaves are alone as they have fallen down from the proverbial "family tree."
I agree this song can be interpreted according to individuality. Being a believer in God and the soul, it appeals to me in a spiritual way:
I'm coming up only to hold you under (I'm coming to your funeral to bury you)
I'm coming up only to show you wrong (I'm coming up only due to social formality, the real you is not there, just the body)
And to know you is hard we wonder (To really know you as a spirit rather than the body I could always see is difficult for most mortals)
To know you all wrong we were (We who knew you, incorrectly viewed you as a human, but your true identity is spiritual, beyond the dead body left behind for burial)
Really too late to call So we wait for morning to wake you That's all we got (You died late in the evening, so its too late for others to gather. We wait for morning to begin your wake)
to know me as hardly golden Is to know me all wrong, they were (People think the same mundane way about me, they don't see that beneath the surface is the soul, my true self)
At every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral Every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral Every occasion, know I'm ready for the funeral At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral (But I'm ever ready for that day, when my day comes to die. I know I will go on living on that special day of liberation. It could be any day, any occasion, at any moment... but I'm prepared in a spiritual sense)
To the outside the dead leaves, they're on the lawn Before they died, had trees to hang their hope (To the outsider that witnesses death, they only see the dead body, not knowing the faith the individual had, the hope they clung to throughout life, given by God whom they leaned on)
And every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral And every occasion once more It's called the funeral And every occasion (I'm ready)
Barbie, <br /> <br /> Reading your words I quickly sensed a familiarity that increased with every sentence. Then I started smiling, it was quite clear to me that you were no 'Barbie' (love the 108 by the way, beautiful).<br /> <br /> I have only just recently decideed to start looking up songs and reading about what they mean and how others feel about the lyrics. So, its really quite amazing this is one of the first songs I look up. In fact you are the person who gave me the Band of Horses CD......back in August :) <br /> <br /> I really cant find the words to describe how i feel to to find YOUR interpretation of this song......you My Brother, HERE and INTERPRETING this particular song.......well there really is only one thing i can say and that is 'HARE KRISHNA' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /> <br /> Just today in the mail I received Dad's Navy Service Record from the National Archives of Australia. I'd forgotten sending away for it ......and ......forgotton that I had not opened it yet...so ........ I just opened it NOW while listening to the song.....reading what you had written.... <br /> <br /> i must not forget to literally BREATH in this moment and the energy of such an auspicious happening between Brother, Sister, our Father and Lord Krishna. WOW!<br /> <br /> Sri Krishna, you have touched my heart again.....i am so grateful to have had this connection with you today through my brother Bakti PJ and through his words which are really your words dear KRISHNA.<br /> <br /> I have been missing our Father so much recently.....this warms my heart.....HARE KRISHNA. <br /> <br /> Return to Godhead.<br /> <br /> Thanks Peeps. YOU really ARE a WINNER.<br /> <br /> Love <br /> <br /> Ler.........No. 6
no.
@Barbie108 .........In going with the idea that this could possibly be God or spiritual related then to me in my mind this song is written in the perspective of the devil himself and the fact that he is always there waiting for us to screw up.
I believe this song is about a sick parent, whether it be alcohol or some other substance. The person telling the story has grown up and separated themselves from their parent, but at holidays or other occasions when they see their parent, they are reminded of what a bad place they are in and that, due to their destructive behavior, there will inevitably be a funeral, it's only a matter of time. The quote "To the outside The dead leaves, they are alive\For they don't have trees to hang their hearts" is referring to the parent messing with their emotions and breaking them down as a child (parent=tree, child=leaves). He would rather be apart from the parent than feel emotionally broken and abused.
So, yeah. That's what I think.
This is the best reply I have heard so far Shea. This song definitely seems to be about some kind of malignant family member and a lament about the lifetime spent with that person.........and this person approaching the end of their life. <br /> <br /> There's a repetitive triumphant spirit to the refrain "ready for the funeral"
absolutely, this is getting very close to the true meaning INHO
This Is What Band of Horses said the song means..... Not the meaning I took from it and still don't, thats whats so great about songs like this. It has so many meanings to so many different people. Truly awesome song. Completely and totally in love!!
Artist -Band of Horses
Song- The Funeral
Album- Everything All the Time
Band of horses formed in 2004 and their first full length album Everything All the Time was recorded in 2005. The first single released off this album was “The Funeral” which has grown legs as a song commonly used in television, films, video games, and ads. In August of 2009 Pitchfork named the song the 67th greatest song of the 2000s. The song takes an uplifting approach to such a melancholy scenario. The singer, Ben Bridwell, who has been compared to Jim James and Wayne Coyne uses a brilliant double meaning in the line “Morning to wake you; it’s all we got”. “Mourning” and “a wake” are both synonymous with funerals but in this context aren’t used that way. In an interview Bridwell admitted that the song actually really wasn’t as deep as most have interpreted it to be. He stated it was really about dreading his birthday and Christmas, where there is so much pressure to please, impress, get gifts, pretend to be excited and get together for dinner. He likened the idea of these occasions to funerals. Whatever the meaning, the song is moving and can really trigger a reflective state. Most recently Kid Cudi has sampled the song in “The Prayer”.
By James Sobie