than·a·to·pho·bi·a
[than-uh-tuh-foh-bee-uh] -
an abnormal fear of death.
My philosophy on lyrics and song ideas is that I write about things I am thinking about, or struggles I am going through in life, or prayers, or whatever. Sometimes they are thought experiments. And music is the best way (at least for me) that I can attest to and share my faith.
In Spring 2011, I was amazed to hear several stories of people who were really afraid of death. On Easter Sunday morning one of the elders at church talked about how he was afraid of death, bordering on the irrational, before becoming a Christian.
That same week I read about a woman who
had the corpses of her husband and twin sister dug up and kept the corpses in a spare bedroom. All because she had a fear of death. And she was very claustrophobic and could not imagine her loved ones being in the ground and not being able to breathe. (hello? they're dead!)
Talking to people, even Christians, I was surprised to find many people afraid of death. And I know a friend who is struggling because her son was killed in a car accident.
To which I say, why are you acting like there is no resurrection of the dead?
12Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;14and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. (1 Corinthians 15:12-14).
I also read about people in the cholera outbreaks of the 19th century who were buried with a string tied to the wrist running up to a bell that they could ring if they were buried alive by accident. (no one ever rang the bell).
This song was written in the
Crucible days. I took a lead guitar idea from Kyle and the song Thanatophobia (the fear of death) was written in less than a week.
Thanatophobia MP3
Thanatophobia captured on a Youtube video
(© 2011 Scott Miller - Pilgrimsprog Music - pilgrimsprog.com)
I want to talk to you
Not tell you what to do
So you might find a better
way
Thanatophobia
You're in its grip because
You might not see another
day
As you get get older
there's a fear of death
What really happens when
you die?
Deep in the ground, is
that the end of it?
Try as you might you just
can't get it out of your mind.
Thanatophobia
Claustrophobia
You feel you're locked
down in the ground
Several cubic feet of dirt
surrounding you
And not a living soul
around
Tie a bell onto your wrist
as a precaution
Ring it loud and they may
hear
If they start to dig
- will they even find you?
Does it quell your ghastly
fear?
All flesh on earth has
died
But only one to rise
And by that act He made a
way
Thanatophobia
Has lost its grip because
He rose again that sunny
day
