Silenced by death in the grave
La-la-la-la
William Butler Yeats couldn't save
La-la-la-la
Why did you stand here?
Were you sickened in time?
But I know by now
Why did you sit here?
Ah-ah

In the grave
In the grave
In the grave
In the grave

Why should I blame her?
That she filled my days with misery
Or that she would of late have taught to ignorant men
Most violent ways
Or hurled the little streets upon the great
Had they but courage equal to desire?

Sad that Maud Gonne couldn't stay
La-la-la-la
But she had MacBride anyway
La-la
And you sit here with me
On the isle Innisfree
And you are writing down anything
But I know by now
Why did you sit here?
Ah-ah (ah-ah)

In the grave
In the grave
In the grave
In the grave

La-la-da-da
La-la-da-da
La-la-da-da-da-da-da
La-la-da-da
La-la-da-da
La-la-da-da-da-da-da

William Butler
William Butler
William Butler
William Butler

Why should I blame her?
Had they but courage equal to desire
Had they but courage equal to desire (William Butler, William Butler)
William Butler


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Yeat's Grave Lyrics as written by Dolores Mary O'riordan

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Yeat's Grave song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    The "sitting in a grave" part refers to Yeats using his personal suffering as artistic inspiration, something Dolores knows about very well. As she goes on in the previous line "And you writing down everything, But I know by now" seems to reflect an earlier time in her life when she might not have realized why he put himself through the misery and in her eyes closer to his own death, though is it clear to her now as an artist having experienced her own heartbreak and healing through artistic expression.

    motorbreath23on June 08, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Maud Gonne was this woman Yeats was obssessed with. She was into violent politics in Ireland and he asked her to marry him several times but she said no every time. The pain this caused him was the source of much of his poetry.

    plain_janeon May 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    W.B Yeats is/was a great poet writer

    Sensibleon April 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    See, once you know history and the names, the song makes sense and it's sad

    sixedhearton June 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Ocean Soul: your comment was meaningless. The whole first part draws attention to yourself and not in a positive way. Don't comment on a good song and then throw Fred Durst's name in it to draw attention, dumbass. I think the only part of your comment I agree with is that MORE PEOPLE SHOULD LISTEN TO 'No Need To Argue'..good cd from start to finish!

    by the way..W.B. Yeats WAS a great poet! :)

    TransparentSunChildon August 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    who's MacBride? and what does she mean why did you sit here in a grave?

    lovelyritalucyon May 15, 2009   Link
  • -5
    General Comment

    FUCK FUCKEDIFUCKFUCK...Fred Durst was in my school class sucka

    okay, some cheap provocation to attract attention to good music, i am too tired for anything that's worth lyrics like these...i don't know W.B. Yeats, i don't know "the isle Inisfree" , but i know:

    IF MORE PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN TO AND UNDERSTAND "NO NEED TO ARGUE" by "THE CRANBERRIES", THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE. THIS IS SERIOUS.

    Ocean Soulon February 09, 2006   Link

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