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Breaking Benjamin, Flatbush Zombies, and Pantera are among the artists with songs on the “11 Songs About Burial or the Cemetery” playlist.  

Things get a bit dark – morbid if you will – on our latest playlist.  11 Songs About Burial or the Cemetery deals with death, period.  Despite the overall morbidity, sometimes the burial isn’t literal.  Sometimes, burial is symbolic with being overwhelmed by something – a different sort of death.  Artists appearing on this particular playlist range from the likes of Flatbush Zombies (“Headstone”) to Pantera (“Cemetery Gates”).

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1. Flatbush Zombies, “Headstone”

Vacation in Hell • Glorious Dead Recordings • 2018

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According to Flatbush Zombies, on “Headstone,” the fifth song from Vacation in Hell, “We’re just really doing lyrical exercises, which is what hip-hop is about, making references.”  Throughout the course of the record, the hip-hop collective seems to reference a number of rap icons/songs from the past including Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., The Hot Boyz, Fat Joe, Big Pun, and Missy Elliott among many others. Naturally, some of the icons have passed away.

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Notably, the headstone has some interesting engraving, or so the hook suggests:

“Put ‘Money over bitches’ on my headstone

Here lies ‘Young n*gga gettin’ paper’

Never take a loss on my headstone

Only take an L when I’m smokin’ it

Zombie Gang three times on my headstone

Been thuggin’ from the Gradle to the Grave

Now your favorite rapper name on a headstone

Too late – he already dead.”

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2. Big K.R.I.T., “Bury Me in Gold”

4eva is a Mighty Long Time • BMG Rights Management • 2017

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“‘Cause the chains ain’t the chains they chained us up with.” “Bury Me in Gold” closes out 4eva is a Mighty Long Time, the very soundly executed, 2017 double album by Big K.R.I.T. The old-school Mississippi rapper/producer is incredibly underrated, but definitely shows his immense talent throughout the course of 4eva is a Mighty Long Time and the song at hand. While there’s morbidity profiled on “Bury Me in God,” the keyword of the song title and the song itself is GOLD, period.  Concerned with his soul, “just in case,” Big K.R.I.T. wants to be buried in gold.

“Bury me in gold, bury me in gold

Just in case the boat man doesn’t know me and claims that I owe

Bury me in gold, bury me in gold

Just in case I’m forsaken and I have to pay for my soul.”

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3. Mike Posner, “Buried in Detroit”

Writer: Mike Posner « Producers: Martin Terefe & Mike Posner

At Night, Alone. • Island • 2016

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“Buried in Detroit” is a moving, lush ballad that truly allows for Mike Posner’s distinct pipes to shine.  The record is something of a modern spin on Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,”tailored to Posner’s beloved hometown.  Even though Posner has a serious tone throughout “Buried in Detroit,” he allows for some ‘comic relief’ honesty with lyrics like “You see I got fucked up in Stockholm,” but follows with the memorable, sentimental hook, “But I’ll be buried in Detroit.”

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4. The Cadillac Three, “Bury Me in My Boots”

Writers: Jaren Johnston, Kelby Ray Caldwell & Neil Mason « Producers: Dan Huff & Justin Niebank

Bury Me in My Boots • Big Machine • 2016

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The Cadillac Three fittingly opens their 2016 album Bury Me in My Boots with the title track.  On “Bury Me in My Boots,” the country trio certainly doesn’t want death and the funeral to be a sad occasion. The homegoing involves the boots (obviously), whiskey, and black roses.

 

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“Bury me in my boots and don’t forget the whiskey

Light a cigarette girl, lean on in and kiss me

Send me on my way with some black roses

This is the path I’ve chosen and you can’t go with me

My hour glass was always half-empty

It’s bound to be the bottle or the bullet that bit me

So, when I go baby you know just what to do…

Bury me in my boots

And don’t forget the whiskey.”

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5. Breaking Benjamin, “Bury Me Alive”

Dark Before Dawn • Hollywood • 2015

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As hard to believe as it is, live burial is a legitimate occurrence. As to why lead singer Benjamin Burnley would ever desire to be buried alive is baffling, as it’s simply NOT a good way to go out. Nonetheless, Burnley sings:

“Light the way and let me go (suffocate inside!)

I will break and watch you crawl

Bury me alive!”

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6. Logic, “Buried Alive”

Writers: David Cunningham & Sir Robert Hall

Under Pressure • Def Jam • 2014

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“Do you really wanna be famous / Do you really wanna be a superstar?” These are the questions that Logic asks himself on “Buried Alive,” a gem from his 2014 debut studio album, Under Pressure.  Unlike Breaking Benjamin on “Bury Me Alive,” Logic seems to be less literal and more figurative.  Just to reiterate, live burial legitimately happens.  But also, you can be “buried alive” with any assortment of concerns, issues, or problems, which Logic highlights.

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7. Rick Ross, “Bury Me A G”

Ft. T.I.

Writers: C. Harris, Jr., S. Cooke & W. Roberts « Producer: Beat Billionaire

MMG Presents: Self Made, Vol. 2 • Warner Bros. • 2012

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Rick Ross is at his best on the morbid “Bury Me A G,” the closing selection from MMG Presents: Self Made 2 (The Untouchable Empire).  “Bury Me a G” features grinding, southern hip-hop production courtesy of Beat Billionaire.  The centerpiece of the record is the catchy hook, where Ross expresses his desires if he dies tonight:

“If I die tonight I pray I get buried in clean drawers

Line us all up, just bury me with my dawgs…”

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8. Thirty Seconds to Mars, “The Kill (Bury Me)”

Writer: Jared Leto « Producer: Josh Abraham

A Beautiful Lie • Virgin • 2005

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There is no death involved on arguably Thirty Second to Mars’ most popular record, “The Kill (Bury Me).” Jared Leto isn’t being literally buried alive.  No, someone, presumably a girl/past relationship is breaking him down and he’s finished with it.

On the chorus he asserts:

“Come, break me down

Bury me, bury me

I am finished with you

Look in my eyes

You’re killing me, killing me

All I wanted was you.”  

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9. My Chemical Romance, “Cemetery Drive”

Writers: My Chemical Romance « Producer: Howard Benson

Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge• Reprise • 2004

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“This night, walk the dead in a solitary style / And crash the cemetery gates / In a dress your husband hates.” Hmm, “in a dress your husband hates” – interesting. Anyways, as always, My Chemical Romance shows their dramatic and morbid narrative on “Cemetery Drive,” a song from their 2004 album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Often, the album is known for two key songs: “Helena” and “I’m Not Okay (I Promise).”  There’s lots going on within “Cemetery Drive,” including death, an affair, and grief.  Gerard Way sings about the death and loss romance on the chorus:

“I miss you, I miss you, so far

And the collision of your kiss

That made it so hard.”

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10. Cannibal Corpse, “Beyond the Cemetery”

Tomb of the Mutilated • Metal Blade • 1992

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“Forever sleeping in this coffin / Eternally dreaming…” In regards to title alone, “Beyond the Cemetery”is one of the tamer songs on the 1992 Cannibal Corpse album, Tomb of the Mutilated.  Even so, the death metal band is incredibly brutal – understatement.  You know it’s bad when the opening lyrics are “Nude and violated I raped the life from her body…”

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11. Pantera, “Cemetery Gates”

Writers: Pantera « Producer: Terry Date

Cowboys from Hell • Atlantic • 1990

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“You left me incomplete / All alone as the memories still remain.” “Cemetery Gates” appears off the 1990 Pantera album, Cowboys from Hell.  While the band released albums prior to Cowboys from Hell, it served as the band’s major label debut.  On “Cemetery Gates,” Phil Anselmo is devastated by the loss of his lover, struggling with how to cope with it. By the end, he asserts, “I will unlock my door / And pass the cemetery gates,” which potentially means, he’s come or is coming to terms with the loss.  

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