As the cheerless towns pass my window
I can see a washed out moon through the fog
And then a voice inside my head breaks the analogue
And says

"Follow me down to the valley below
You know
Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul"

I survived against the will of my twisted folk
But in the deafness of my world the silence broke
And said

"Follow me down to the valley below
You know
Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul
Follow me down to the valley below
You know
Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul"

My David don't you worry
This cold world is not for you
So rest your head upon me
I have strength to carry you

(Ghosts of the twenties rising)
(Golden summers just holding you)

Follow me down to the valley below
(Follow me follow me down)
You know
Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul
Follow me down to the valley below
(Follow me follow me down)
You know
Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul

Come to us
Lazarus
It's time
For you to go


Lyrics submitted by christsizeshoes, edited by Relayer, Blaze_Infernus

Lazarus Lyrics as written by Gavin Richard Harrison Colin Edwin Balch

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Lazarus song meanings
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48 Comments

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  • +10
    My Interpretation

    There is a passage in the Bible about the raising of Lazarus - a believer in Jesus who falls ill and dies. Jesus is said to visit his tomb and raise him from the dead. So, generally speaking, I think this song is about recovery from ills and moving on to new beginnings.

    I get the impression that the subject of the story, David, has endured a fairly miserable existence, raised by "twisted folk" in a "cheerless town". He is aware that he can have a better life, however (seeing light, i.e. the moon, through the fog). A voice (perhaps a religious/spiritual presence, or maybe his subconscious) then implores him to move towards the light of that moon - towards a better life. "Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul" would hint at his yearning to reach that light.

    I'm unsure what the ghost of the twenties is about, though...

    This is my first attempt at interpreting a PT song, so don't bash too much. :P

    ryanz0ron April 17, 2011   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    In a combonation of a few other interpretations, I think this song is in the second person, between the perspectives of a dead mother's ghost and her still-living son. He's sitting on a train, leaving where he's from, and his mother's ghost comes and tells him to follow her. He is living a life that is not cool at all (See: Shallow), and has reached a point of reflection. She is there to help him become more normal, or, more "human". Hope you liked it! -High Fives and Bulletproof Smiles, Foo

    ApatheticMeepon March 10, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Beautiful vocals, lovely, lovely song. A little radiohead-esque, but with Steven Wilson's own touch.

    That said, I have no idea what it means. For some reason I think of this as the sequel to Trains. Probably the mention of summers and valleys, and it's like that song sonically as well. Anybody else?

    lauramarson May 04, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    at the end of the song there are sounds like a train makes going over the tracks. ,maybe the person in the beginning who sees towns pass by his window is in a train.

    i don't know what the religious references mean tho.

    Blackbutterflion May 04, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadwing There you go... Go read the Concept part.

    Opethvinceon June 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Shut up about the incest idea it is unfounded and quite disgusting. When I am listening to Deadwing I don't want to think about having sex with my sister...grows. This is a beautiful song and I can find no incest in this song.....

    atomsplitteron July 31, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i dont believe the incest bit, though i see where youre coming from... if it helps, i know that this album's lyrics are based on an unproduced movie script that steve wilson and a friend wrote...

    it seems this song is the subject, david, i guess being born again... maybe leaving his old town thats been holding him back. i dunno, but the incest idea you love doesnt seem to click at all.

    plexuson August 18, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    has anyone noticed that the song preceding "lazarus" is "halo" - both titles have to do with religion. obviously, "halo" bashes religion, and i dont think "lazarus" glorifies it or anything... i think, as the incest boy was saying, that it's about someone who had to choose a road for himself. maybe its about choosing your own beliefs - "I survived against the will of my twisted folk".

    Jondude11on September 19, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Me and my friend just saw Porcupine Tree live. They played this song, and it was awesome, even better then the CD version. Steve Wilson really has an awesome voice. Anyway, He explained a few songs, Lazarus being one of them. He said something like: "This is as close to a lovesong as Porcupine Tree can get, and it's a pretty fucked up love song. Because in this song, one of the lovers is dead. The dead mother sings this to her son." Or something like that. In any case, it is about a dead mother and her child.

    Kurodaon December 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary of Bethania, who were friends of Jesus. The two sisters asked Jesus to bring Lazarus back to life. That's all I have to add... Heh.

    Tinny_Bon December 10, 2005   Link

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