Death Bed Lyrics - Five Score & Seven Years Ago - Relient K

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me 

I can't believe this is the end 

But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone 

If I close my eyes tonight, I know I'll be home 

The year is 1941 

I was 8 years old and far, far too young 

To know that the stories of battles and glory 

Was a tale, a kind mother made up for a son 

You see, dad was a traveling preacher 

Teaching the words of the teacher 

Mother had sworn he went off to the war 

And died there with honor, somewhere on a beach there 

But he left once, to never return 

Which taught me that I should unlearn 

Whatever I thought a father should be 

I abandoned that thought like he abandoned me 

By '47, I was fourteen 

I'd acquired a taste for liquor and nicotine 

I smoked until I threw up, yet I still lit 'em up 

For thirty more years, like a machine 

So right there you have it, that one filthy habit 

Is what got me where I am today 

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me 

I can't believe this is the end 

I can hear the sad memories still haunting me 

So many things I'd do again 

But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone 

If I close my eyes tonight, I know I'll be home 

Got married on my 21st 

Eight months before my wife would give birth 

It's easier to be sure you love someone 

When a father inquires with the barrel of a gun 

The union was far from harmonious 

No two people could've been more alone than us 

The years would go by and she'd love someone else 

And I realized I hadn't been loved yet myself 

From there, it's your typical spiel 

Yeah, if life was a highway, I was drunk at the wheel 

I was helpin' the loose ends all fall apart 

Yeah, I swear I was destined to fail and fail from the start 

I bowled about 6 times a week 

A bottle of Beam kept the memories from me 

Our marriage had taken a 7-10 split 

And along with my pride, the ex-wife took the kids 

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me 

I can't believe this is the end 

I can hear those sad memories still haunting me 

So many things I'd do again 

But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone 

If I close my eyes tonight, I know I'll be home 

I was so scared of Jesus but he sought me out 

Like the cancer in my lungs, it's killing me now 

And I've given up hope on the days I have left 

But I cling to the hope of my life in the next 

Well, then Jesus showed up, said, "Before we go up 

I thought that we might reminisce 

See one night in your life, when you've turned out the lights 

You asked for and prayed for my forgiveness" 

You cried, wolf, the tears, they soaked your fur 

The blood dripped from your fangs, you said, "What have I done?" 

You loved that lamb with every sinful bone 

And there you wept alone, your heart was so contrite 

You said, "Jesus, please forgive me of my crimes 

Sanctify this withered heart of mine 

Stay with me until my life is through 

And on that day, please take me home with you" 

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me 

I can't believe this is the end 

I can hear you whisper to me, "It's time to leave 

You'll never be lonely again" 

But this was my deathbed, I died there alone 

When I closed my eyes tonight, you carried me home 

I am the way, follow me and take my hand 

And I am the truth, embrace me and you'll understand 

And I am the light and for me, you'll live again 

For I am love, I am love, I, I am love