FAWM: "To Die"

To Die

Liner Notes

Just messing around and this happened. I dunno...don't even ask!

#americana #folk #horror #death #monster

Lyrics

To Die
February 4, 2025
https://johnstaplesmusic.com/FAWM2025/JohnStaples-ToDie.mp3

there's something comin'
and I don't know what
it's scaring me more
than I ever thought
I should be leavin'
hitting the road
before the end
of hope

it's fast and dreadful
and it hates my guts
I start the screaming
when I feel its touch
I never knew that it
would hurt this much
to die

the light is fading
can't get caught outside
I'm running faster
with no place to hide

I never knew that it
would hurt this much
to die

if only I had found
another way through
I searched forever
just to get back to you
the door was open
and it was all along
my intuition was wrong

it's almost over
got no time for regret
lifeblood dripping
but I ain't done yet
I'll soon be leavin'
going into the light
I'm on my
final flight

it's fast and dreadful
and it hates my guts
I hear my screaming
as I feel its touch
I never knew that it
would hurt this much
to die

© 2025 John Staples
JohnStaplesMusic.com

Comments

@chill4matt 2d

Just messing around can yield some pretty good tunes. Love the viola/cello and your guitar playing is really good. Lyrics nice, vocals strong.

@sycophant 3d

Stunning instrumental work on this one. Your voice is also great here, really enjoy that higher register you reach - so emotive!

@sireci 1w

Like the pickin' and violin, vocals, lyrics--great song!

@chariotbaldwin 2w

This reminds me of that poem about death .... Do not go gentle into that good night? I loved the line about the intuition being wrong, which is like the worst thing every, cos our intuition is supposed to be our guidance, and its up to us to listen to it or not. So when you say it was wrong, that is so scary and painful and reflective on - why and how did I eff up my life?

It's almost as if the song is about that moment where one gets a cancer diagnosis and you can't hear anything the doctor is saying after the initial news. The shock of it all and how it "hates my guts" is a very raw and vulnerable way to express it.

Sometimes you just dont have to explain where the words come from. we'll all relate to it differently. Nice writing. the simplicity is powerful

@writeandwrong 2w

Wow, I can truly feel the emotion pouring through your vocals, with each note carrying a depth of feeling that’s both mournful and yet incredibly beautiful. The gentle tones evoke such vivid imagery, transporting me through each stage of this journey! Brilliant work here, one I hope you use post-FAWM. 🎵 ❤️

@grayland 2w

Right away I just love the guitar picking.... then the fiddle comes in and it's magic. I really realy really LOVE the melody and the use of flats. I can't say enough about how creative this melody is. Again your vocals are absolutely amazing and authentic...All that emotion just flows from you and it is unmistakable. I think this year's vocals are some of the best I've ever heard from you John. I must admit that the lyrics got to me since I'm struggliung with health issues. I had to stop listening and come back a day later, once I got my mind in check... But that in itsself is a tribute to how crazy powerful this song really is. I have to wonder how many other listeners get so moved by this.. If music is meant to evoke emotion, well John you knocked it out o the park...and more... Extremely well done, I've never had a song affect me more and that's for sure!!!

@williamjames 2w

Sounds folky and somehow ancient. Like an ominous warning from the past perhaps... "my intuition was wrong" man this is some good stuff.

@raspberry33 2w

If that's not real fiddle, it's a very convincing patch. Love the guitar and vocals, too. Evocative lyrics, too. Nicely done!

@jeremykazoo 2w

Your guitar walks you into the song and the lyric picks up that walk. I love this song, great job John!

Makes me teary in the end.

@overflow 2w

Ooo, creepy! I love how the guitar makes me feel like I’m sauntering through a spooky forest, while you’re beautiful vocals lead the way to the unavoidable end.

@jerrypettit 2w

Ah, I appreciate @sbs coming up with what those first notes was reminding me of. This is a great, great folk/blues number from you--a bit different from what I'm used to. Terrific job! ❤️

@ccsfrogpond 2w

The regret and despair of this song pair really well with your voice, the emotion really comes through in an authentic way. The violin at the end is just the cherry on top. Your instrument choice really brought this one to the next level, great job! 🐸

@billwhite51 2w

love me a blues ballad. this internal journey of a dying man comes across strong and clear with a gorgeous arrangement and crip lyrics. i can feel the fear in your voice as this journey becomes more real with every step. i like it that this is the fear of a brave person who soldiers on, rather than of a coward in denial.

@steve_poet 2w

yeah this is awesome! so captivating, the understated arrangement suits perfectly , love the little added strings in places, small detail but adds so much. wonderful work

@jibbidy34 2w

This is so poignant and achingly good. The guitar and strings. That chorus is so heart wrenching. Reminds me of Johnny Cash ‘Hurt’ but better. ‘I never knew it would hurt this much to die’ packs one heck of a punch! I felt this was about ageing - Being in the final chapter. Your songs are so good John! Loved my listen and went in twice. I want it in my playlist!

@celineellis 2w

I agree with @cmharwood89 that this is a great vibe for you - #horrorfolk - you have hit such a gorgeous balance of tempo, lyric and the guitar with violin is lovely. It reminds me a bit of the theme from True Blood, but more lament-y. its really inspired me to go and write something dark like this!

@heid 2w

The violin adds a great wail to this. And that chorus lyric is so cutting.

@sbs 2w

Ooooo... that first chord reminded me of "So Happy Together" and then you threw that downward chord into the mix and that always gets me. It just took off from there. Super cool vocals/lyrics. May be my favorite of what I can remember. Btw, one of the last things my grandmother said was, "I didn't know it would be so hard to die."

This mood you're setting this FAWM reminds me of how I felt during the lock down. Before then I'd never had a desire to explore other planets but, wow, I definitely wanted to get off Planet Earth back then.

@coolparadisoMod 2w

Well it’s bleak! Maybe that old proverb/wish is right! I hope you die well! Morbidity has been around me for a while now! I seem to be getting accustomed to the idea! This is pretty darned good mate!

@sinisthesia 2w

This feel like the song that plays at the end of the movie where the villain wins. The “fast and dreadful” part sounds like it could be a James Bond song. Really cool stuff