and when i woke up, i woke up stiff and grey already,
posed in sleep by something half my cells made stone,
wrists and ankles crossed at a vulnerable angle,
and when i woke up, well i woke up alone

as the only fool or pharaoh present,
in a shoddy school museum collection

looted of gold, if there ever was some,
and even the good wood gone
remaining fingers curled around the memory of ra,
left not even with my death mask on,
heart and other organs missing for so long,
features faded and dated in estimation,
and even the good wood gone

drunk off a leak in the ceiling,
some mantra stuck on my lips in vain

no flash photography,
no flash photography,
no flash photography,

and when i'm really buried i'll be buried in cleveland,
with a new pair of skis and someone's old set of keys to their car,
and bottom floor apartment door and health club locker,
throw the scent of my true purpose from god and grave robbers

my true purpose which i will have taken the care to have kept hidden
even from myself my whole life

no flash photography,
no flash photography,
no flash photography,

already grey and rehearsing my mantra,
left hand gripping hockey stick or cattle prod,
my final futile act of double deception,
aloof and tinged with truth as the best lies are,
as i've always shot pool south paw,
and many of you who knew me saw


Lyrics submitted by shitscold

Even the Good Wood Gone song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

9 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    "but i am still alive in love and wide eyed in my time not a mummy shrinking in its cloths."

    zefferonion February 14, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's "half my cells made stone", not "half my selves made stone"

    elephanteyelashon October 25, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    everything up until the first chorus is describing a dream he had. It just sets up the egyptian tomb imagery.

    the second verse has him being buried with things that have nothing to do with his life, new pair of skis, etc. hence would "throw the scent of my true purpose from god and grave robbers" The next two lines are basically the message of the song and the point he's getting at.

    the last verse elaborates on the second, having him holding a hockey stick or cattle prod, which have nothing to do with his purpose in life. He says "aloof and tinged with truth" refers to the fact his left hand was gripping the stick or prod, and as he "always shot pool south paw", it would make sense that these items would be in his left hand, though the items themselves are misleading.

    The song is basically about his sense of purposelessness, or not knowing what his true purpose is.

    johnbean92on November 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe two lines are wrong: "features faded and baited in estimation" should be "faded and dated"

    "a louf intinged with truth as the best lies are" should be "aloof and tinged"

    I mean no offense.

    GIOIABOIAon July 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "left hand gripping hockey sticker cattle prod" should be "left hand gripping hockey stick or cattle prod"

    kurotauron July 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Such a folky song and so catchy! I love it. Especially the part where he talks about how he wants to be buried. I just love the way he puts ideas together.

    glockjawon August 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    one of the most beautiful songs yoni wolf has ever written. the way he describes things make me tingly.

    mayonneggon September 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a beautiful song. I saw it as an old pharroh who was reincarnated as someone in our time.

    fallsaddleson September 09, 2010   Link
  • -2
    General Comment

    Should be "remaining fingers curled around the memory of Ra"

    Ancient Egyptian sun God.

    TaShawnon August 11, 2009   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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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/
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
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.