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Lay it down Lyrics

He left his dead in the cottonwood trees
the ground grown too hard with the years
Falling down was not what it used to be
the ground grown too hard with the years

He told his children those little white lies
the truth would only paralyze them
He told himself those little white lies
the truth would only paralyze him

Lay it down, lay it down

He sold most of what he cherished,
the rest he let them steal
Shot his dog out in the open field,
the rest he let them steal

He broke all of his promises,
under a sea green sky
They never thought to ask him why,
under a sea green sky

Lay it down, lay it down

Please bury me in the cottonwood trees
the ground grown too cold for me
Going to sleep tonight in a warm feather bed
the ground grown too cold for me

Lay it down, lay it down
Song Info
Submitted by
neon_like On Feb 18, 2002
3 Meanings

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Cover art for Lay it down lyrics by Cowboy Junkies, The

Laying it down, settling up, getting rid of what's not needed, making peace, getting ready for demise on their on accord. Like suicide.

Sly

Cover art for Lay it down lyrics by Cowboy Junkies, The

This is a medaphore for heroin addiction. Brilliantly dealt with.

@allifield This is super insightful. "Sold most of what he cherished", sleeping in a "warm feather-bed" are very reminiscent of opioid addiction.

Cover art for Lay it down lyrics by Cowboy Junkies, The

This song is about an old man who has just buried his wife "...he left his dead in the cottonwood trees". He is now planning his own death but does not want to confront it ("he told himself those little white lies..."). He is dismantling what remains of his life and wants to be buried with his wife. A very heart-wrenching song.

 
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