If there was a single day I could live...
A single breath I could take
I'd trade all the others away.
The blood's on the wall, so you'd might as well just admit it
And bleach out the stains, commit to forgetting it.
You're better off empty and blank, than left with a single pathetic trace of this

Smother another failure, lay this to rest.
Console yourself, you're better alone
Destroy yourself, see who gives a fuck
Absorb yourself, you're better alone
Destroy yourself.

I'll chain you to the truth, for the truth shall set you free
I'll turn the screws of vengeance and bury you with honesty
I'll make all your dreams come to life, then slay them as quickly as they came

Smother another failure, lay this to rest.
Console yourself, you're better alone
Destroy yourself, see who gives a fuck
Absorb yourself, you're better alone
Destroy yourself, see who gives a fuck.
Failure.

If there was a day I could live,
If there was a single breath I could take
I'd trade all the others away



Lyrics submitted by jc6md

Track duration: 03:50

"Laid to Rest" as written by David Randall Blythe, Mark Morton, Will Adler, John Campbell, Chris Adler

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Laid to Rest song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment:I personally think the song is about someone trying to commit suicide and not being able to with the opening line it's like he's realizing that what he's doing is wrong "If there was a single day I could live a single breathe I could take I'd trade all the others away" then "The blood's on the wall, so you'd might as well just admit itAnd bleach out the stains, commit to forgetting it.You're better off empty and blank, than left with a single pathetic trace of this" Is like...his...Inner voice almost telling him to do it. The course is basically the inner voice in him telling him why he should do it and encouraging him. THEN the second verse is like...the inner voice explaining to him what doing this would "Accomplish for him" now the Failure line is like...the man well...Failing at trying to commit suicide and then realizing that he..I guess has more to live for.
    Flag Kieran1988on June 08, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I've always liked the interpretation of the murder victim haunting his killer. I see it as the ghost of the victim guilt-tripping the murderer into suicide. Either that or the murderer is being tortured by memories of what he's done and is driven to suicide. Basically the same thing. I usually try not to take lyrics very literally, but it just makes sense for this song.

    You're better off dead than to live the rest of your life as a murder, nobody would give a fuck if you died, etc. I'll never let you forget what you've done ("I'll chain you to the truth" and "bury you with honesty").

    In the first and final lines, for me it's like the victim is saying if he could live to see the day murderer dies (suicide or otherwise) he would give up every other day of his life just to do so.
    Flag KaiteTheTaterFairyon September 14, 2012   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:This song, at least in my interpretation, is about laying an old relationship to rest. I'm going to explain what everything means:

    If there was a single day I could live...
    A single breath I could take
    I'd trade all the others away.

    Interpretation:
    "I would rather live one day happy than a lifetime lonely"

    The blood's on the wall, so you'd might as well just admit it
    And bleach out the stains, commit to forgetting it.
    You're better off empty and blank, than left with a single pathetic trace of this

    Interpretation:
    "What's done is done. It's already happened, so stop holding on."

    Smother another failure, lay this to rest.
    Console yourself, you're better alone
    Destroy yourself, see who gives a fuck
    Absorb yourself, you're better alone
    Destroy yourself.

    Interpretation:
    "Lay the past to rest. Forget it and move on."
    "Destroy yourself, see who gives a fuck" applies to the thoughts of suicide. You want to just destroy yourself because you're tired of the loneliness. An ultimate expression of emotion.

    I'll chain you to the truth, for the truth shall set you free
    I'll turn the screws of vengeance and bury you with honesty
    I'll make all your dreams come to life, then slay them as quickly as they came

    Interpretation:
    "You don't know the truth, but if I had a chance I would prove you wrong."
    The last line is a sarcastic way of expression of what happened. The person brought you to life with love, and then hurt you so quickly. You can't understand why somebody could be the one to make you so happy, but then tear you apart.

    -----

    This song, at least my interpretation of it, reminds me exactly of my ex and I. She was everything I was looking for, and things were perfect. But I said some things I didn't mean, but she believes they were true. She won't give me a chance to explain the truth. I know she could be happy with me, but I'm done trying. I'll lay it to rest.
    Flagged xdeadpixelon July 19, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with metal head FC, it's not an attack on Bush. I think this song is about remembering who you are, and not trying to fit in with others that the old you wouldn't have liked. "You're better off empty and blank, than left with a single pathetic trace of this, smother another failure, lay this to rest." So in other words be yourself, your better off being yourself than trying to forget who you were just to fit in with others. "Absorb yourself, you're better alone." Reminds me of their lyrics from "In Defense of Our Good Name" which again is about being yourself.
    Flag ghfkmr2on March 01, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:"If there was a single day I could live...
    A single breath I could take
    I'd trade all the others away."
    This simply just means that he missed a lot, as in what he could've experienced, because he's been smothered, metaphorically. By another person, maybe family, a relationship, or religion. I related this song to me and my past relationship, and being destroyed by it.

    "The blood's on the wall, so you'd might as well just admit it"
    He's not talking to anyone else, like the person it has to do with. But he's talking about himself, and YOU, the listener of the song, because you can relate it to something you're going through too, or maybe the same thing, but mostly feeling the same way he does. He's reaching out to YOU.
    But this line is saying, just admit it, its over, its dead(whatever it is), the evidence(blood) on the wall says so. But then again, this line could be taken completely different.

    "And bleach out the stains, commit to forgetting it"
    Forget about it. Forget about and get rid of the memories and impacts its made on you (stains).

    "You're better off empty and blank, than left with a single pathetic trace of this"
    You'll be better being empty and blank, rather than remembering this, and worrying about it, and being affected by it, and being pathetic and trying to help it or being too upset about it.

    "Smother another failure, lay this to rest"
    It's another failure, its over, end it.

    "Console yourself, you're better alone,
    Destroy yourself, see who gives a fuck,
    Absorb yourself, you're better alone,
    Destroy yourself"
    Again, he's talking to YOU, me, himself. Yes, he's telling you to destroy yourself. YOU destroy YOURSELF. Don't let others destroy you. You control yourself, no one else, or nothing else controls your life. But either way, you will get destroyed in life, make it you who does it, no one else, because "you're better alone". "who gives a fuck"? You'll be "empty and blank", rather than upset all the time, or getting hurt by things like these. So destroy yourself and be alone, because other people really hurt you, and it won't keep happening.
    Destroy yourself, and nothing will destroy you.

    "I'll chain you to the truth, for the truth shall set you free"
    You're being lied to by people, and played with. And not told everything. There are secrets. So he will tell you every secret, and truth about everything. Because it will set you free, to get away from these people. And exclude yourself, and be alone, because that's best. You won't be lied to and hurt.

    "I'll turn the screws of vengeance, and bury you with honesty"
    Simply, he will tell you all the lies and secrets that have been going on.

    "I'll make all your dreams come to life, and slay them as quickly as they came"
    He will show you how others destroy you. How things get your hopes up, and your dreams come true. And then just end. And fail. And how there are secrets and lies.

    So lay this to rest, know the truth, and destroy yourself, be alone, empty and blank, so you never get hurt by others.
    Flag Drummer08on November 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:pretty obviously about a person trying to set him/herself free from a relationship or something like that. The murder thing is just metaphorical i think
    Flag Teocosmoon November 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:me and the family were listening to this on our way to myrtle beach last year, its a fucking awesome song to
    slam your head on the dashborad to
    Flag screamohardcoreon October 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Its about pedophiles and how they have created the ultimate sin. Society don't accept them, they are outcasted. DNR is put next to their name, do not resusitate. They are better off empty and blank then left with a trace of the propeganda sent out to destroy them. Arms are crossed against emotion so say who gives a fuck... destroy urself. The lyrics will drag down anyone who let's the worm inside their head. As much a I love metal, its not so tragic to say the devil will wear a mask of righteousness. A wolf in sheeps cloak. Stay true to yourself and eachother, let's work together to change the world. The escense of life is death. When we are born we are givin a miracle of life. Its a miracle to be alive and out fate to die. Its said our destiny leads to our fate. But it is everyones fate to die in the end. When come to turn with this ur destiny will become clear. The future is theirs, not ours. The destiny of mankind is in our hands to make a world worth living in for the children of tomorrow. Free ourselves of tyranny, propeganda, and this distructfull hate that has plagued the earth for centuries. Fuck your wars.
    Flag anon85ceboon August 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The best way to follow Jesus is to "be" Jesus, living your life with Him as your model. Look at it as forsaking yourself for the sake of peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

    FIRST 3 LINES: Jesus on the cross. He is God, but he still feels the pain of a human death.

    NEXT 4 LINES: We are all sinners. Jesus wants us to *FIGURATIVELY* kill ourselves, following His teachings and not our own.

    NEXT 4 LINES: NOT LITERALLY KILLING OURSELVES. Replacing our personalities with the personality of Jesus. Christ is telling us to do this.

    NEXT 4 LINES: If we die with Jesus, we are bound for heaven. All we have to do is replace our personality with that of Jesus, spreading his fragrance wherever we go.

    Final lines repeat

    (In the music video, at the end, Jesus, depicted as the guy in red, finally reaches the guy and touches his shoulder. The figure in red is gone, because he is now living through the guy he was chasing. It's just symbolism of replacing your personality with Jesus').
    Flag metalhead1890on May 14, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:See WHO gives a FUCK!!!
    Flag Sickness89on January 10, 2011   Link

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