This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Lost in the darkness
I fade from the light
Faith of my father, my brother, my Maker and Savior
Help me make it through the night
Blood on my conscious
And murder in mind
Out of the gloom I rise up from my tomb into impending doom
Now my body is my shrine
The blood runs free, the rain turns red
Give me the wine, you keep the bread
The voices echo in my head
Is God alive or is God dead?
Is God dead?
Rivers of evil
Run through dying land
Swimming in sorrow, they kill, steal, and borrow, there is no tomorrow
For the sinners will be damned
Ashes to ashes
You cannot exhume a soul
Who do you trust when corruption and lust, creed of all the unjust
Leaves you empty and unwhole?
When will this nightmare be over? Tell me
When can I empty my head?
Will someone tell me the answer?
Is God really dead?
Is God really dead?
To safeguard my philosophy
Until my dying breath
I transfer from reality
Into a mental death
I empathize with enemies
Until the timing's right
With God and Satan at my side
From darkness will come light
I watch the rain as it turns red
Give me more wine, I don't need bread
These riddles that live in my head
I don't believe that God is dead
God is dead
Nowhere to run
Nowhere to hide
Wondering if we will meet again on the other side
Do you believe a word
What the Good Book said?
Or is it just a holy fairytale and God is dead?
God is dead
God is dead
God is dead
God is dead
Right
But still the voices in my head
Are telling me that God is dead
The blood pours down, the rain turns red
I don't believe that God is dead
God is dead
God is dead
God is dead
I fade from the light
Faith of my father, my brother, my Maker and Savior
Help me make it through the night
Blood on my conscious
And murder in mind
Out of the gloom I rise up from my tomb into impending doom
Now my body is my shrine
The blood runs free, the rain turns red
Give me the wine, you keep the bread
The voices echo in my head
Is God alive or is God dead?
Is God dead?
Rivers of evil
Run through dying land
Swimming in sorrow, they kill, steal, and borrow, there is no tomorrow
For the sinners will be damned
Ashes to ashes
You cannot exhume a soul
Who do you trust when corruption and lust, creed of all the unjust
Leaves you empty and unwhole?
When will this nightmare be over? Tell me
When can I empty my head?
Will someone tell me the answer?
Is God really dead?
Is God really dead?
To safeguard my philosophy
Until my dying breath
I transfer from reality
Into a mental death
I empathize with enemies
Until the timing's right
With God and Satan at my side
From darkness will come light
I watch the rain as it turns red
Give me more wine, I don't need bread
These riddles that live in my head
I don't believe that God is dead
God is dead
Nowhere to run
Nowhere to hide
Wondering if we will meet again on the other side
Do you believe a word
What the Good Book said?
Or is it just a holy fairytale and God is dead?
God is dead
God is dead
God is dead
God is dead
Right
But still the voices in my head
Are telling me that God is dead
The blood pours down, the rain turns red
I don't believe that God is dead
God is dead
God is dead
God is dead
Lyrics submitted by ab0ve, edited by sdr, Bestapia, Sp1derschwein
God Is Dead? Lyrics as written by Tony Iommi Terence Butler
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
My understanding, from listening and what I've read, is that it a reference to the work of German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. In which, he discusses the concept of God as it relates to morality. If God is dead, then morality has no meaning. Specific to this song, it seems to be more of a torment or struggle to know the truth. In one part, the lyrics state, "I don't believe that God is dead"...then going on to repeat, "God is dead...God is dead". The Nietzsche reference is similar to Trent Reznor's (NIN's) song 'Heresy" - While "Heresy" is more of an atheistic exclamation, "God Is Dead?" is clearly more of a question, and not necessarily dismissive of God's existence.
@Yobbo14 Sort OF like the study of metaphysics?
@Yobbo14 It should be noted that Nietzche's quote is often misinterpreted. It's not a statement that God doesn't exist, and it's not just saying God is irrelevant in non-existent in the eye of culture, but that God is DEAD, meaning he's very much a part of culture, but in a very static way. If God were alive, metaphorically speaking, people would still believe in miracles instead of explaining them away with science, that is the point he was getting at.
@Ganondoxon - You're right about that context of Nietzsche's statement. I may not have been entirely clear on that in what I mentioned for his "If God is dead.." remarks. I don't like speaking in generalities, but considering Nietzsche's anti-theistic leanings, it's probably a safe assumption he wasn't a believer :) - I think @FreshOwnageon was more succinct in saying "If God is dead, everything is permitted" - which would seem to be more in line with certain philosophy and not necessarily the meaning of this song (which is more about a basic question of God's existence). With a reference to society, if God is dead, it would point to morality being dead as well. To many, an absent, missing, or nonexistent God means we only have nature and survival of the fittest, which does not provide right, wrong, an answer to life's meaning, love, and much more.
@Yobbo14 <br /> <br /> Nietzche was definitely an atheist, but that's not what the God is Dead quote is about. You need to understand the historical context, where at the time most philosopher's were theists, but they were also naturalists. That's what Nietzche was criticizing, he's saying God had no purpose in their model. In another quote, he said he could believe in a dancing god, as it's the dead god of the philosophers he found absurd, but he was still an atheist.
A few other important things to note about Nietzsche: he was trained as a theologian, which is what informed his ideas about God and why he was so obsessed with the idea of a dead God, and the God is dead quote was actually from a character of his, Zarathustra, though he was using Zarathustra as a mouthpiece. Finally, Niethzche's nihilistic existentialism is a direct result of his atheism, it's interesting to compare his philosophy with Kierkegaard's (a devout Christian) as a result.
Sorry...I know a question mark belongs on the title...typo and apparently you can't edit the title of the song?
@ab0ve all corrected now :)
Seems like its about someone struggling with faith and morality.
They want to believe in God:
"To safeguard my philosophy Until my dying breath I transfer from reality Into a mental death I empathize with enemes Until the timing’s right With God and Satan at my side From darkness will come light"
But find that the world makes that very difficult:
"Rivers of evil Run through dying land Swimming in sorrow, they kill, steal, and borrow, there is no tomorrow For the sinners will be damned Ashes to ashes You cannot exhume a soul Who do you trust when corruption and lust, creed of all the unjust, Leaves you empty and unwhole? When will this nightmare be over? Tell me! When can I empty my head? Will someone tell me the answer? Is God really dead? Is God really dead?"
"If God is dead, everything is permitted."
I think it's about might society... well its just theory.
From what I believe as I have listened to this song. It seems like they're questioning not whether God exists but if religion is as inspiring as it was before.
Think about music which is the biggest way to spread a message as quick as possible. Most of songs in the modern age (mainstream) talk about things and send message to do things that are pretty much the polar opposite from what you read in the bible. Now as we stand today, mainstream music is mostly bullshit.
Does God exist? Yes. However, a lot of kids and teens of the modern era ignore religion and I believe that is the message this song is saying.
Oh and the user name is a alias.