But what if you can't die

[kestrell]

so your soul can find neither rest nor resurrection?

While others have been preoccupied with resurrection and the afterlife, I've been attempting to find legends regarding people who are too evil to die, who have a literal inability to cease living, no matter how burdened by their own sins they may become, and the very ground itself refuses to allow them to be buried in it.

Specifically, I've been obsessed with this Josh Ritter song
"Ground Don't Want Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuadfchdsiI
which is about a gunslinger who is cursed by his dying mother to "go to Hell real slow," while the chorus and the title dwell on the theme of someone who is so evil that he cannot die, and the very ground itself refuses to hold and shelter him.

This theme seems like its a really old legend or piece of religious folklore, but I'm drawing a blank when I try to think of legends or stories that have used it. Kudos to Ritter for creeping me out in just a few verses.

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

do zombies fit in to this framework?

[kestrell]

No, because zombies are "undead," that is, they have technically died, and have often even been buried, but I'm talking about legends or characters who *can't" die and *can't* be buried.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks .... it's comforting to have a dead/non dead expert in my circle.

[metahacker]

The gunslinger from Preacher might fit this trope. Too evil to die, too haunted to rest...

[oracne]

That performance was recorded in Philly! At a place I've been to! But I did not go see Josh Ritter.

I can't think of a similar example, either.

[cvirtue]

I can't think of any examples, either, but I'll probably think about it off and on this afternoon and might come up with something.

It does make an interesting intersection of cultural tropes, though.