About the song
When people think of Willie Nelson, they often picture the long silver hair, the red bandana, and his beloved, weathered guitar “Trigger.” Now in his 80s, Willie isn’t just a country music icon—he’s a living witness to a world that has changed dramatically. In his later musical years, he has never shied away from difficult themes—like death. His version of “Gravedigger” is a striking example of that fearless honesty.
Originally written by Dave Matthews, “Gravedigger” became something else entirely when Willie sang it. He gave it new soul—slower, deeper, more reflective. The song is not just about a gravedigger—it’s a quiet journey through memory, where every grave is a life, a story. Through Willie’s smoky, time-worn voice, the song becomes a soft conversation with death—not terrifying, not dramatic, just a simple acknowledgment of life’s natural ending.
For those who have already lived through much of life—especially those over 65—“Gravedigger” acts like a mirror. It makes us think of those we’ve lost, the quiet memories, the unfinished conversations. Yet somehow, the song doesn’t leave us feeling sad. Instead, it brings a gentle sense of peace. It’s as if Willie is whispering, “Death is not the end—it’s a part of the journey, a quiet closing chapter.”
That’s why “Gravedigger” isn’t really for the young or restless. It’s a song for those who have felt deep loss, who have loved truly, and who have faced the impermanence of life. For older listeners, it offers something rare and powerful: the chance to pause, to breathe deeply, and to look honestly toward the horizon. When we face the end, we finally learn to treasure every remaining moment.
Willie Nelson doesn’t try to reinvent himself in this song—he doesn’t have to. It is his honesty, his slightly trembling voice, and his spirit of quiet acceptance that make “Gravedigger” one of the most profound recordings of his career.
Video
Lyrics
Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913
Made his
Great grandchildren believe
He could live to a 103
A hundred and three is forever
When you’re just a little kid
So, Cyrus Jones lived forever
Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Muriel Stonewall 1903 to 1954
She lost both of her babies
In the second great war
Now, you should never have
To watch your only children
Lowered in the ground
That means
You should never have
To bury your own babies
Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Ring around the rosey
Pocket full o’posey
Ashes to ashes
We all fall down
Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Little Mikey Carson ’67 to ’75
He rode his bike
Like the devil
Until the day he died
When he grows up
He wants to be
Mr. Vertigo
On the flying trapeze
Oh, 1940 to 1992
Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Grave digger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
I can feel the rain
I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Grave digger
