Everyone loves you when you're dead
they send you love and hold your loved ones
the men pretend they have no feelings
children are the confused ones
while women spit fire at each other
but it's their way of dealing.

Everyone loves you when you're dying
their words are poetic
eggshell floors and open doors
non-believers become prophetic.

Everyone loves you when you're dead
no matter if you were a ghost to your children
a monster to your wife
or slayed ten thousand men,
no matter if you lied for a living
or sheltered the grieving
if you instigated heartache
or didn't even know their last name.

Everyone loves you when you're dead
you were never a thought in their own little head
yet they will weep at your grave
where everyone sings glory to your name because they knew you so well.
Was she a teacher?
perhaps she worked at the corner store
oh he loved a man-
and they hated it
"but now I feel bad for his partner"
"she was bullied by my child"
"by unknown faces,
the poor thing"
"he destroyed our lives,
oh, the poor thing".

You will return to the earth
you will be dirt, maggot or ash
you will disappear
be whispers in the breeze
or nourish the ground you trod over
yet they will sing your name with memorable glee
because everyone loves you when you're dead.