Free at last, I'm the past
Undone in unknown prison, I'm holding on
Peace and need, a mouth to feed
I'm standing way on the other side

I'm staring right back at my cell
And through its frozen image
I'm laughing right back at my hell
Lifelong

Arms in knots, liver spot
My blood is paving your woes
Stealing keys sold to me
It kills the brotherhood writhes with pain

I'm staring right back at my cell
And through its frozen image
I'm laughing right back at my hell
Lifelong

I'm a lifer
Lifer
Lifer

Lifer (lifer)
Lifer (lifer)
Lifer (lifer)

I'm staring right back at my cell
And through its frozen image
I'm laughing right back at my hell

I'm staring right back at my cell
And through its frozen image
I'm laughing right back at my hell
Lifelong


Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by sokorny

Lifer Lyrics as written by Philip Anselmo Pepper Keenan

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Lifer song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    There's an interview where Phil talks about this song and about 'Lifers', who are, in his words, people who do nothing else except music, who don't want to do anything else except play music.

    This song is about Phil talking about being on the cover of a magazine, he's looking at a picture of himself, his 'frozen image'.

    Also, the lyrics are wrong in every place they're transcribed, everywhere. These lyrics are also WRONG.

    It doesn't say 'myself' and 'my health'. It says 'my cell' and 'my hell', if you listen closely - the chorus actually changes each time you hear it. This is not because Phil was high, this is because there are DIFFERENT LYRICS.

    First chorus: My cell, My hell

    Second verse:

    Arms in knots Liver spot My blood is paving your woes Stealing keys Sold to me It kills the brotherhood Writhes with pain

    Second chorus: Myself, My Deal

    Third chorus: My Cell, My Tale, My Cell, My Hell

    Akaneonon December 24, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    you missed a whole verse there buddy

    bryankashon August 05, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Ya Swan Song is also missing alot.

    Muzzyon March 07, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    yeah,thats not the whole thing! Still,Down's best song.Awesome time change in the middle.

    Razormasticatoron April 09, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    there is no time change, its just a tempo change

    this song is about having the same mantality your whole life and never following any trends, being a lifer

    BadAcidTripon April 16, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    tempo cahnge then. i cant even remember what it sounds like now.

    Razormasticatoron May 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Nola is one of the best harderish rock albums ever created.

    Sandman-Xon December 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    he just took was in the book, which is missing half

    krazylarryon January 30, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Brotherhood of eternal sleep...for LIFE.

    suckymusicsuckson April 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about living life for the sake of life once you're free, because in there end that's all there is.

    Barry Burtonon August 25, 2007   Link

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