“Death Bed” by Powfu, featuring Beabadoobee

Cover art from the single “Death Bed” by Powfu, featuring beats by Beabadoobee

After browsing SoundCloud for new beats, lo-fi hip hop artist Powfu (a.k.a. Isaiah Faber) came across Beabadoobee’s “Coffee.” This chill music inspired Powfu to write a song about someone who’s on their deathbed, but is longing to stay with his love. He’s afraid about what will happen here on earth once he passes on.

Yeah, I don’t wanna fall asleep,
I don’t wanna pass away
I been thinking of our future
’cause I’ll never see those days

In a video produced by Genius, Powfu explains that he watches a lot of romantic films, a lot of “cringy stuff” as he calls it. After watching these movies, he writes songs about how the characters may be feeling. “Death Bed” is about Powfu exploring the final thoughts of a person who knows they are dying. There’s regret, lament, a request for forgiveness, and memories of all the good times he shared with his lover.

Powfu in “Death Bed” music video
Credit: Columbia Records

Dying Young

I been praying for forgiveness,
you’ve been praying for my health
When I leave this earth,
hopin’ you’ll find someone else
‘Cause yeah, we still young,
there’s so much we haven’t done
Getting married, start a family,
watch your husband with his son

Understandably, Powfu, who was around twenty-years-old when he released “Death Bed,” raps about all of the things he won’t get to experience since he is dying so young. Major life rites of passage–marriage, having children, growing old–this character won’t get to experience.

I wish it could be me,
but I won’t make it out this bed
I hope I go to heaven
so I see you once again
My life was kinda short,
but I got so many blessings
Happy you were mine,
it sucks that it’s all ending

Many novels have used the deathbed scene to reveal great mystery or secrets of the dying speaker. However, Powfu’s dying character doesn’t have any mysteries or scandals to explain, just an acknowledgment that his life is short and how unfair it seems that he’s dying.

Crying through the Chorus

Don’t stay awake for too long,
don’t go to bed
I’ll make a cup of coffee
for your head
It’ll get you up
and going out of bed

Powfu believes those in mourning would like to believe their lost ones are only sleeping, that they may soon wake up. The chorus of “Death Bed” implies that perhaps a normal cup of coffee will be enough to keep the dying man awake and alive.

Resonating with Youth

“Death Bed” didn’t really get attention until March 2020, right at the start of quarantine, so Powfu didn’t get to experience just how much his new fans connected with his song. He just watched the numbers of people who listened to “Death Bed” go up and saw all of the covers that singers put online. A lot of people have used his song as the background music for TikTok memorial videos, like those for Kobe Bryant.

In response to the success and popularity of the song, Powfu says, “People are attracted to sadness.” There’s a happy vibe to Beabadoobee’s beats, but the song is deep, and people seem to like feeling both at the same time. People are also using “Death Bed” as the soundtrack for their videos of cute animals, like dogs and hamsters.

You can watch the official video for Powfu’s “Death Bed” below.