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Let Me Die A Young Man's Death

Author: Roger McGough

This Page Includes: Full Verses of the Poem in Text. A Recording of the Poem (Audio). A Free PDF Download for reading purposes. Free Editable Google Doc Download if you wish to make changes or to personalise the poem. The page also includes what the poem is about, structure of poem and explaining the best parts.

Let Me Die A Young Man's Death Poem Verses

Let me die a young man’s death
not a clean and in-between
the sheets holy water death
not a famous-last-words
peaceful out of breath death

When I’m 73
and in constant good tumour
may I be mown down at dawn
by a bright red sports car
on my way home
from an allnight party

Or when I’m 91
with silver hair
and sitting in a barber’s chair
may rival gangsters
with ham-fisted Tommy guns burst in
and give me a short back and insides

Or when I’m 104
and banned from the Cavern
may my mistress
catching me in bed with her daughter
and fearing for her son
cut me up into little pieces
and throw away every piece but one

Let me die a young man’s death
not a free from sin tiptoe in
candle wax and waning death
not a curtains drawn by angels borne
‘what a nice way to go’ death

Audio Recording

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Personalised Poem

Would you like to customise this poem? You have the option to personalise it by accessing the provided link, which will direct you to Google Docs. From there, you can download the poem ‘Memories’ to your personal Google Docs account or Microsoft Word where you will be able to edit the poem however you want.

Personalised Poem

About the poem

This Poem is also known as the following: "Roger mcgough funeral poem".

The poem expresses the speaker's desire to die a young man's death rather than a peaceful, holy death or a death in old age. The speaker imagines various dramatic scenarios in which they die, including being mown down by a car after an all-night party or being killed by rival gangsters while getting a haircut. The poem is a rejection of conventional ideas about death and a celebration of living life to the fullest, even if it means dying in a dramatic or unexpected way.

The Structure of Poem

The poem is structured as a single stanza, consisting of fourteen lines. The poem employs a loose and informal structure, with irregular line lengths and a lack of consistent meter or rhyme scheme. The poem uses simple and direct language, employing vivid and often humorous imagery to convey a sense of defiance and rebellion. The poem explores the idea of a "young man's death," rejecting the idea of a peaceful or comfortable passing in favor of more dramatic and unpredictable scenarios. The structure of the poem is designed to reflect the speaker's desire for a life lived on their own terms, free from the constraints of convention and expectation.

Best Quote from Let Me Die A Young Man's Death Poem

This is a quote from the poem Let Me Die A Young Man's Death by Roger McGough

"Let me die a young man’s death not a free from sin tiptoe in candle wax and waning death not a curtains drawn by angels borne ‘what a nice way to go’ death"

This quote captures the speaker's desire for a vibrant, adventurous life, even in death. The contrast between the "young man's death" and the "free from sin tiptoe in" or "curtains drawn by angels borne" deaths highlights the speaker's rejection of a life lived in safety and comfort. The quote encourages readers to embrace the fullness of life, with all of its risks and challenges, and to seek out experiences that are meaningful and memorable. It is a reminder to live life to the fullest and to make the most of the time we have.