Waiting For The Rapture

The APPLE: The apple represents knowledge, as in the Garden of Eden. But in this case, it's a good kind of knowledge.

The LADY: The woman giving Noel the apple is a Christian who is trying to save his heathen rock and roll soul. Her "lover" is Jesus. He also refers to Jesus in "The Turning" when he says, "Yours is a Messiah." Sometimes he accepts her salvation, like in this song, sometimes he doesn't want to hear her, like in "Get Off Your High Horse Lady" ( seagulls are a Christian metaphor for transfigured souls, as are butterflies, as in "Catch the wheel that breaks the butterfly" ). Sometimes he messes with her mind like in "The Turning" and tries to make her think she's just like he is. These are the three appearances of the "lady" on this album.

HIGH AND LOW: "Come feed me" -- with the apple of truth -- "and then bring me down," he says. In the world of Oasis, fantasy is HIGH but reality is LOW. Drugs, rock and roll and wealth are all high. But the truth is bitter, and brings you down from these giddy heights. He is asking this lady/angel to bring him down to reality, out of his rock star dream. To save his soul.

"High" is one of the most prominent words in the Oasis lyrics ( along with "shine." ) Like in the ominous "Bag It Up," with its references to the "monkey man" ( devil ) when Liam says, "Tell me what you desire / And I'll bag it up hig-g-g-ghh." The devil is making his dreams come true, giving him wealth and fame as a rock and roll star... Or in "The Hindu Times" when he says, "I get so high that I just can't feel it." Already in "The Hindu Times," the dream is wearing off and becoming repetitive. Just like in this song when he says "Come get me off the merry-go-round." The circus of his life.

But there's another part of him that doesn't want to or can't let go. This is the theme of the album. Noel's realization that he either has to give up rock or lose his soul. But how can he give it up? "It's all that I've ever known," he says in "Falling Down." He is tormented by this dilemma and lashes out at God -- "If you won't save me, please don't waste my time." It's pretty grim. This album is the sound of a very talented and bright guy on the verge of losing his mind and soul. That is why it is so doomy and psychedelic.