A chill grows near you're faced with fear
a darkened day you'll see it clear

your shadows call while you stand tall
watch before me while you fall

Times are changing, rearranging
where's the answer we've all been looking for
transient dreaming do you believe in
I am the answer to it all

where are you heading to time will tell
to a destiny that fate knows well
so fly away

Victim of the silence - wipe the cob - webs from your eyes
beware the season - the lies, the treason, the pain

You're running in reverse now - while struggling to break
free
the path you strayed from can only lead to dismay

Living a timeless tale
Behold the truth unveiled
Passion and glory fill my heart
Knowing my fate

Nightmare of fantasy
Untrue reality
Learning the lesson
as we fight to stay alive

Awakened by the thunder - crashing conscience
through your mind
persistent voices - all evils call out your name

Tears can break the silence - let your doubts
and fears be heard
You're releasing inned peace from your soul

Marching on staff in hand
falling into darkness
carry on through the endless nights calling

Living a timeless tale
Behold the truth unveiled
Passion and glory fill my heart
Knowing my fate

Nightmare of fantasy
Untrue reality
Learning the lesson
as we fight to stay alive

Crying downs your doubts and fears
they say that time just might heal the wounds of love

it replaces shattered traces of despair
looking out through all the years
they say that time just might heal the wounds of love
it replaces

Love will light the darkness there
bringing some hope into view
it replaces the nameless faces of loneliness that you once
knew

Marching on staff in hand
falling into darkness
carry on through the endless nights calling

Living a timeless tale
Behold the truth unveiled
Passion and glory fill my heart
Knowing my fate

Nightmare of fantasy
Untrue reality
Learning the lesson
as we fight to stay alive


Lyrics submitted by KrudeDuse

A Lesson Before Dying Lyrics as written by Michael Pinnella Jason Rullo

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

A Lesson Before Dying song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

1 Comment

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    The title it an allusion to a book by Ernest J. Gaines.

    It is all an allusion to the book, for example the opening is the trial, and the fear of the execution, and then it builds like the characters change. you really need to read the book (or the spark notes for it) to really enjoy this song.

    rubber314chickenon June 10, 2008   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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.