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Pick Up The Bones Lyrics

Collecting pieces of my family
In an old pillow case
This one has a skull

But it don't have a face
These look like the arms of father so strong
And the ring on this finger

Means my Grandma is gone
Here's some legs in a cloud
Where my sister once played

Here's some mud made of blood
And these teeth are decayed
The ear of my brother

The hand of a friend
And I just can't
Put them back together again

Pick up the bones
And set them on fire
Follow the smoke going higher and higher
Pick up the bones
And wish them goodnight
Pray them a prayer and turn out the light

There are stains on the floor
Where kitchen once stood
There are ribs on the fire place
Mixed with the wood

There are forces in the air
Ghosts in the wind
Some bullets in the back
And some scars on the skin

There were demons with guns
Who marched through this place
Killing everything that breathed
They're an inhuman race

There are holes in the walls
Bloody hair on the bricks
And the smell of this hell
Is making me sick

Pick up the bones
And set them on fire
Follow the smoke going higher and higher
Pick up the bones
And wish them goodnight
Pray them a prayer and turn out the light

Pick up the bones
And set them on fire
Follow the scope going higher and higher
Pick up the bones
And wish them goodnight
Pray them a prayer and turn out the light

Now maybe someday
The suns gonna shine
Flowers will bloom
And all will be fine

But nothing will grow
On this burnt cursive ground
Cuz the breathe of the death
Is the only sound
Song Info
Submitted by
hydrogen On May 14, 2002
8 Meanings

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Cover art for Pick Up The Bones lyrics by Alice Cooper

Alice wrote this song after watching the evening news. The news story was about the war in Bosnia. They had filmed a man walking around literally picking up the body pieces of his family who had been blown apart by the troops that had destroyed the town. He was placing the body parts in a sack to take away for burial.

Cover art for Pick Up The Bones lyrics by Alice Cooper

My Friend Told Me Thats this is about Judgment Day... after i read the lyrics... i realized its about War... This Song is Totally Great...

Cover art for Pick Up The Bones lyrics by Alice Cooper

I find this Alice's most disturbing song. There is zero humor in it which Alice usual hides in his songs. Tc

Cover art for Pick Up The Bones lyrics by Alice Cooper

What can i say?Great Song...(No War)

Cover art for Pick Up The Bones lyrics by Alice Cooper

This song is a masterpiece, and to me, it's definitely about war.

Cover art for Pick Up The Bones lyrics by Alice Cooper

I think this song is about a man deeply involved in crime life, like a mobster or something, and he comes home to realize that his family has been brutally murdered.

He gets rid of the evidence by burning the bones. He wishes he could follow them up to heaven but he knows he cannot so he wishes them a prayer and goes to sleep:

Pick up the bones And set them on fire Follow the smoke going higher and higher Pick up the bones And wish them goodnight Pray them a prayer and turn out the light"

One of my all time favorites :D

Song Meaning
Cover art for Pick Up The Bones lyrics by Alice Cooper

It's about a guy who comes home and kills his family in a schizophrenic spell. After snapping out of it, he realizes what he's done and begins to burn the evidence, hence "Pick up the bones and set them on fire"

It's about The aftermath of WAR, which can be proved by the line:

"There were demons with guns Who marched through this place Killing everything that breathed They're an inhuman race."

Cover art for Pick Up The Bones lyrics by Alice Cooper

actually its about a kid who kills his family and realizes that he didnt want to then burns the house down and wants to be with family im heaven.hence"follow the bones going higher and higher

Actually, Alice most likley got the idea from the news. It's about The aftermath of WAR, which can be proved by the line:

"There were demons with guns Who marched through this place Killing everything that breathed They're an inhuman race."

He's talking about soldiers killing helpless families. And yes, the line: "Follow the smoke going higher and higher", means he wants to be with his family. (Suicide?)

 
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