Story Behind The Song

About meeting patients who are either scared to death of death or perfectly OK with their own mortality. The latter group are usually devoutly understanding of the concept of "death as transition" and often talk about death as a movement from one place to another. The prior group of patients tend to have shallow or trivial views about both life and death. I wrote and recorded this song to express the old gospel vision of life, death, judgment and eternal life. But it speaks bigger than this - to the condition of the frightened soul that this song is really about.

Song Description

Constantly, I confront death and religion in the same context - as if these two things are inseparable. In this song, this constant connection is evident.

Lyrics

Afraid of Dying
© 2011 Bruce Mills (SOCAN)


Oh, you so afraid of dying that you can't even sleep at night
Afraid you gonna wake up six feet under - sealed up tight
Always thinking Death is gonna come for you
Fly in your window and carry you away - down to the Bayou with the snakes and alligators
You think your soul is gonna disappear

Oh, you shiver and you quiver when the old Black Mariah passes by
And you think it's all your business every time - every time somebody dies
You - obsessing with obituaries and walking in the cemeteries
All them spooky tombs got you shaking to the bones
I'll tell you what you gonna have to do -

Chorus

You gonna have to read the book of Revelation
And find yourself some consolation
Judgment day is coming - and Death will long be gone
You'll be dancing up in glory until dawn - oh hallelujah

So, you so afraid of dying that you only go to sleep in the light
And you so scared of dying all alone in the cold dark night
You thinking Death is waiting there for you
Waiting by the window to take you far away - down to the Bayou with the snakes and alligators
You think your soul is gonna disappear - come on, get out of here!

I said, get out of here!
Ain't nobody's soul can ever disappear - no, no, no, no!

Chorus

You gotta read the book of Revelation
I said, gotta get yourself some consolation
Judgment day is coming - and the dying will be done
You'll be dancing up in glory before dawn

Oh, oh, you so afraid of dying
You fill your head up with superstition
You won't even try to listen to the truth
Because you're so afraid - so afraid

Read the book of revelation
Go and find yourself some consolation
Judgment day is coming - and the dying will be done
You'll be dancing up in glory before dawn

Oh hallelujah
Oh hallelujah
Judgment day is coming - and the dying will be done
Oh hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
No more dying - I ain't lying - you'll be dancing - way up in glory

Oh, oh, you so afraid of dying
Oh, oh, so filled with superstition
Oh, oh, you won't even try to listen
Oh, oh, you're so afraid of dying