On Our Death Day


After it’s all gone
It’ll be so clear
There were hundreds of ways out
But only one way here
When the city’s a bone and desert
And the farms are poisoned dirt
You’ll start looking for answers
You’ll start looking where you hurt

Oh Mary,
Is it too late?
Is every word an echo,
Does every song fade?
Will you be standing
Under a black and silver sky
By my side,
By the graves,
On our death day

There’s a vulture with his head down
The captain’s butchering Gunga Din
He calls for darkness and darkness comes
Our fellow slaves invite it in
But not you my beloved
You’re all that’s good in this world
And while the night feels stuck and endless
The road’s half lit, the moon’s a pearl

Oh Mary,
Is it too late?
Is every word an echo,
Does every song fade?
Will you be standing
Under a black and silver sky
By my side,
By the graves,
On our death day

When all hope is gone
All that’s left is hope
It’s not absent from this song
Though my voice won’t tell you so
But why should I explain?
What’s been obvious and plain
You’re in every book ever written
All you’ve ever known were these chains

Oh but Mary,
Is it too late?
Is every word an echo,
Does every song fade?
Will you be standing
Under a black and silver sky
By my side,
By the graves,
On our death day

Performed by Doug Lancio and Matthew Ryan
Recorded and Produced by Doug Lancio and Matthew Ryan
Mixed by Doug Lancio
Mastered by Hans DeKline

A very special thank you to Will Webb and Liam Haley Webb for the riffing, inspiration and help that led to the final verse.
Written by Matthew Ryan
© Plastic Violin/BMI 2019