After all these implements and texts designed by intellects
So vexed to find evidently there's still so much that hides
And though the saints dub us divine in ancient fading lines
Their sentiment is just as hard to pluck from the vine

I'll try hard not to pretend
Allow myself no mock defense
As I step into the night

Since I don't have the time nor mind to figure out the nursery rhymes
That helped us out in making sense of our lives
The cruel, uneventful state of apathy releases me
I value them but I won't cry every time one's wiped out

I'll try hard not to give in
Batten down to fare the wind
Rid my head of this pretense
Allow myself no mock defense
As I step into the night

But Mercy's eyes are blue when she places them in front of you
Nothing holds a Roman candle to the solemn warmth you feel inside

There's no measuring of it as nothing else is love

I'll try hard not to give in
Batten down to fare the wind
Rid my head of this pretense
Allow myself no mock defense
As I step into the night

Mercy's eyes are blue when she places them in front of you
Nothing really holds a candle to the solemn warmth you feel inside you


Lyrics submitted by doobeydoobeydude, edited by smallwonderrobot, Portishead93

Saint Simon Lyrics as written by James Russell Mercer

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Saint Simon song meanings
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  • +8
    Song Meaning

    I think this song is about religion from an atheist point of view (don't worry about a rant, I'm not even a religious person). It's about the Bible (texts designed by intellects) and how it's merely a representation of a greater moral value standardization (evidently, there's so much that hides...)

    First off, Claude Henri de Rouvroy, also known as Saint Simon, exposed essays regarding a deep belief in cleaning out religion of its paranormal dogmas and focusing it on the moral values. (No one else seemed to mind the title of the song...)

    I think Mercer defines the bible stories as the "lullabies that helped us out in making sense of our lives" He "values them but won't cry everytime one is wiped out" because he realizes the importance of it's moral value (in making sense of life) but identifies them as stories nonetheless. This also explains the "I'll try hard not to pretend, allow myself no mock defense."

    About mercy's eyes: I believe he's referring to the comfort of Faith. Nothing holds a roman candle to the solemn warmth you feel inside when you believe you are safe, protected by (a) God. I think Mercer sometimes wishes he could feel that embrace of Mercy, opposed to what he calls a "cruel state of apathy", yet, that state "releases" him.

    What do you guys think?

    SufshinsStevenson March 22, 2011   Link

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