Open Casket

Death's song 'Open Casket' delves deep into the unsettling and inevitable reality of death. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the emotional turmoil experienced when confronting the lifeless body of a loved one. The opening lines, 'Approach the image filled with fear / As the image grows so clear,' capture the dread and clarity that comes with facing mortality head-on. The song emphasizes the cold, unchangeable nature of death, as seen in the lines 'Touch - The flesh it is so cold / Turn away - You now have been told.' This stark imagery serves to remind listeners of the finality of death and the lasting impact it has on those left behind.

The song also explores the rituals and societal behaviors surrounding death, such as people coming to pay their respects and taking pictures of the deceased. This act of memorializing the dead highlights the human need to remember and honor those who have passed, even as it underscores the strange and often uncomfortable relationship we have with death. The lyrics 'That is what life comes to be / Once they lived, now they're deceased' reflect on the inevitable transition from life to death, a journey that every person must undertake.

Throughout 'Open Casket,' there is a recurring theme of memory and the passage of time. The lines 'Never to return, memories will last / In the future, you'll think about the past' suggest that while the physical presence of a loved one is gone, their memory endures. This duality of presence and absence is a central theme in the song, capturing the essence of grief and the enduring impact of loss. The song's haunting refrain, 'Open casket - Open casket,' serves as a powerful reminder of the stark reality of death and the emotional weight it carries for the living.