Matt Shadows their lead singer says the song was written as per request from the developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Watching the initial trailers for the game & looking at production sketches reminded him of the 'S-Town' podcast & its main protagonist, John B. McLemore. Matt also comments specifically on the lyrics: "I decided that the lyrics would shadow McLemore's life." In 2012, antiquarian horologist John B. McLemore sent an email to the staff of the show 'This American Life' asking them to investigate an alleged murder in his hometown of Woodstock, Alabama, a place McLemore claimed to despise. After a year of exchanging emails & several months of conversation with McLemore, producer Brian Reed traveled to Woodstock to investigate. Reed investigated the crime & eventually found that no such murder took place, though he struck up a friendship with the depressed but colorful character of McLemore. He recorded conversations with McLemore & other people in Woodstock. McLemore killed himself by drinking potassium cyanide on June 22, 2015 while the podcast was still in production. In the narrative of the podcast, this occurs at the end of the second episode; subsequent episodes deal with the fallout from McLemore's death while exploring more of McLemore's life & character.
Dørin' skrik på ruståt hengslo'
Skrømton' ansa' ingor stengslo'
Huska' kring på sval og gang.
Held meg vakja natta lang.
Medt i mørkrat' mednattstime,
kjem så ljøs ei månestripe.
Kalde, kvite beingrindsknokar
krøkje' seg i hop i krokar,
vender seg frå augom mine,
gjømme daudmanns-grinda sine.
Å, eg veit da kven du er!
Du som eingong budde her.
Du som åtte gard og grund.
Du som sleit di sjel isund.
For med mannedrap og svik?
Laug og svor og gjømte lik?
Kvifor dreg du med deg følgje?
Treng du hjelp te' noko dølgje?
Kor er han du vart å med?
Ska han alder gje deg fred?
Tung vert straffa di å li'e.
Gang att her i alle ti'e.
Trø i ring i blodut far.
Sjå deg sjøl som den du var.
Skrømton' ansa' ingor stengslo'
Huska' kring på sval og gang.
Held meg vakja natta lang.
Medt i mørkrat' mednattstime,
kjem så ljøs ei månestripe.
Kalde, kvite beingrindsknokar
krøkje' seg i hop i krokar,
vender seg frå augom mine,
gjømme daudmanns-grinda sine.
Å, eg veit da kven du er!
Du som eingong budde her.
Du som åtte gard og grund.
Du som sleit di sjel isund.
For med mannedrap og svik?
Laug og svor og gjømte lik?
Kvifor dreg du med deg følgje?
Treng du hjelp te' noko dølgje?
Kor er han du vart å med?
Ska han alder gje deg fred?
Tung vert straffa di å li'e.
Gang att her i alle ti'e.
Trø i ring i blodut far.
Sjå deg sjøl som den du var.
Lyrics submitted by alice_in_wonderland
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
Mad Hatter
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Keep My Name Outta Your Mouth
Black Keys, The
Black Keys, The
This standout track comes off the artiste's latest reissue titled "Brothers Deluxe Remastered 10th Anniversary Edition". The track was produced by Mark Neill, Patrick Carney & Dan Auerbach. It was released via major streaming platforms on December 18, 2020.
Breathe
80vii
80vii
This standout song was released to close out the year and was produced in its entirety by 80vii. The track was released via major streaming platforms on December 27, 2020.
Blue Lights X 216
Jorja Smith
Jorja Smith
This standalone single was produced in its entirety by Elfi Vomberg, and released on December 29, 2020.
Nxbody
TheHxliday
TheHxliday
This standout off the artiste's latest project, an EP titled "Batbxy", was jointly produced by Shop w/ Trap, VDIDIT & Mike Gonsolin. The track was released via notable streaming platforms on January 1, 2021.