She was diagnosed on a Friday,
The kids were almost home,
The kids were on their way back home from school,
Lying face down in the gutter
Of unaccomplished dreams and broken memories of things to come,
"Sorry ma'am, I really am. I had to break the news.
I had to make the phone call to tell you that you're due,
You know where,
I'll tell you when,
And I suggest you start living these next three weeks, the best way that you can."

Every night for three long weeks,
She'd roam the hallways half asleep
And as the footsteps fade away
In my mind, I could swear, I could swear, I heard her say:
"Don't wait for me,
I've got a lot to do
I've got a lot to be
And in the end maybe I'll see you there."

Lost her strength on a saturday.
Spent the day in bed.
Yeah, I'm fine, it's just the flu she said
With a smile, but when they turned their backs,
The tears would flow.
She knew she only
Had a while to live
To breathe
To see
To be
To bleed
To stand on her own two weakened feet
"and so I pray everyday: don't take my mother away"

and in the end maybe I'll see you there.
You know I'll see you there
And in the end I'll see you there.


Lyrics submitted by KeasbyKnights

As the Footsteps Die out Forever Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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As The Footsteps Die Out Forever song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Kalnoky is really fond of literary references (especially evident in the Streetlight song "Here's to Life"). I noticed that this song has the same title as Chapter 15 in "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. The Chapter in TOTC is about a guy who basically sacrifices his own life so his friend and lover can be happy. He willingly walks to the guillotine, and is faced with the same kind of impending doom that the woman in this song faces. Just thought it was kind of interesting.

    Sketchphonicson January 13, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The instruments not been sad is the point of ska. The lyrics of most of the streetlight song are very sad and kind of depressing but the music sounds happy and cheerful, youll find its the same with pretty much every ska band.

    asb3on July 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    god, this song makes me tear up.

    Rehasheron March 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Man, I love Streetlight like no other (and fuck present day Catch 22), but this song isn't nearly as good as the original Keasby track. In fact, the whole album sounds way to produced or something. Still, one of the most emotional songs ever written.

    Foundation4lifeon March 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    In this version Tomas says

    You got a lot to do You got a lot to be And in the end maybe I'll see you there

    It's not "I've" got a lot to do for any of them.

    rootson April 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song. One of the saddest songs written. Kalnoky wrote it for his friends mother.

    Daniel726on December 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Truly an amazing piece of writing. I think this song is about a girl whose mother i diagnosed with (cancer?) And when told her mother was diagnosed she gets very depressed for 3 weeks straight.

    Don't wait for me, You got a lot to do You got a lot to be And in the end maybe I'll see you there.

    • I think this is her mother telling her that she doesn't want her to be depressed or see her depressed because it makes her feel guilty.
    Sweetpurplehazeon July 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i tear up every time i hear this song. it describes a situation so perfectly. a mother is diagnosed with cancer and never got to do the things she wanted to do and wants her children to be able to do the things she never could

    sammirkinon October 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like how the first verse is sung by the son, all calm like its not really happening almost like its a dream almost. But once the second verse starts its like the boy realized this is real and doesn't want the last memories of his dying mother be ones of her barely able to move and sick dying in bed.

    elchupacabra636on November 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is amazing. not to mention it has a great ska breakout in the middle.. how ironic.

    elec_trickon November 12, 2007   Link

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