"If I Die Young" Is Confusing Me!

Okay.  At first I thought this song was just a depressing song about a woman who lost a child.  Since I really don't care for The Band Perry's sound, I have tried to ignore this song as much as possible.  The thing about working in radio, however, is that I keep hearing the darn thing!  It is wildly popular and continues to climb the chart, which I really don't understand.  And I really don't understand what the heck the song is meant to tell me!

The Band Perry is a sibling trio and "If I Die Young" is somewhat of a narration from Kimberly Perry, although all of the band members had a hand in writing it.  Kimberly has publicly stated that the lyrics are meant to reflect on what if everything they had going for them were to suddenly stop.  And that they have accomplished a lot at their young ages.

Frankly, I don't buy that.  I think the song has much deeper innuendos and has morbid lyrics.  I almost wonder if Kimberly--or the narrator--was once suicidal, had an abortion, or has lost an infant at birth, because those are the thoughts that come out of my head as I listen to this song.  And the more I listen to it, the more confused I become trying to figure it out.  Maybe that's what The Band Perry had intended.  Perhaps it was meant to be ambiguous so that it would appeal to more listeners?

This song is definitely about death, I'm just not sure who's death the narrator is talking about.    But lyrics like "little cold finger,"  "the sharp knife of a short life," and "sink me in the river" creep me out! 

Here are the rest of the lyrics.  Maybe you can enlighten me. 

If I Die Young  by The Band Perry

If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
oh oh oh oh

Lord make me a rainbow, I’ll shine down on my mother
She'll know I’m safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
ain't even grey, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

And I’ll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I’ve never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There’s a boy here in town says he’ll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

So put on your best boots and I’ll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no I’ll sell them for a dollar 
They're worth so much more after I’m a gonner
And maybe then you’ll hear the words I been singin’
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin’

If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
oh oh

The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep ‘em in your pocket
Save them for a time when your really gonna need 'em oh

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

So put on your best boots and I’ll wear my pearls