Silver Lining

So, this is just my take on the song. Take what you will.

"Some days you're the pigeon Some days you are the statue Some days you're meant to just sit back and observe While the world takes its turn and just shits all over you Some days you need the rain Because no one gets paid To come clean up the messes that life makes all over you" I think this part is essentially just the normal view of life coming from the perspective of those who deal with a hard life. Essentially, we take turns in a cycle between hurting people (being the pigeon and shitting on people) and being the statue that gets defaced. Eventually, we tend to take a separate, aerial view of life and see the cycle ("some days we're meant to just sit back and observe") and realize we have abusive actions towards others and it just feeds the cycle. Nobody cares enough, or it's not anybody's job ("because no one gets paid to clean up the messes that life makes all over you") to come help us heal and what not, so we need the rain. I'm not quite sure what the rain stands for, but since this band is (essentially, no need for label wars) a Christian band and tend to lyrically symbolize different aspects of life through a real, non-fake Christian, I could see the rain symbolizing Jesus. Although it could simply being somebody coming along and be there with you. Take what you will.

"I don't know who I am in this moment I know I disappoint you You don't know who I am anymore Well that makes two of us" I think this stands for the constant trouble a lot of people tend to have. We tend to feel like we aren't good enough, struggling to do the right thing and treat people with respect and also know how to view ourselves correctly. Especially as a Christian, where, if you believe a God with a master plan for his creation exists, and Jesus' life is believed, we're all disappointments and will never amount to what he's created us to be. In my opinion, that's one of the Christian curses, and I think TCM see that. No matter how hard I (or they) try, we'll always be a disappointment compared to what we could be. And I think that's part of being a real Christian, realizing life is hard and that there's pain and problems. (Sorry if this is over-Christiany. I'm just thinking through the song in my own way :])

"Are you following a god and this song got in the way? Well I'm sorry I'm sorry But I am not sorry Is this the truth, the light, the sight, the roots, or the noose?" I think this stands for a lot of people look at Christian bands as, "You need to be holy, no cussing, say this, say that, etc. etc." and TCM's saying, "No, that's religion. Religion is a god, not God. Christians are real people with real problems." They're sorry for offending them, but not really, because, hopefully, it wakes them up. Christianity is the truth, the light, etc., but it's also the thing that kills us. We have issues, Christianity says we need to always be changing, healing, and becoming a better us.

"Everyone is religious only until they don't need to be anymore That's not faith, no not to me All I have left to make are memories and mistakes And new questions I'll take to the grave" We're only religious until we realize we're worshipping a god, not Jesus. And then we don't need (and 99 out of a 100 times don't want) to be religious anymore. Religion isn't faith (Christianity. By the way, for those who may not know, religion is a Christianese word that's been picked up the passed few years that means man made rules, control, etc.. Another words, you walk into a church and they tell you, "no hats, no tattoos, guys must have short hair, etc."). He just needs (and wants) to live his life, whether that means making mistakes or having good times. Dying with new questions meaning continuously changing, growing, mentally evolving, and die wondering different questions than he wonders now.

"Do you know how it feels to have your past Sink it's teeth right into your back? Only to turn around and see yourself Well keep the hell away from me Keep the hell away from me" His past haunts him, sneaking up and stabbing (or biting) him in the back. He turns around to see who stabbed (or bit) him in the back (betraying and hurting him disrespectfully, in my opinion) and realizes he did it to himself. This next part… I can't decide whether he's telling his past to keep the hell away from him, or religion (or religious people) to keep the hell away from him. I assume, since the position of the lines, he's talking about his past. Who knows, maybe his past self was religious. That'd make the two somewhat disconnected sections come together more coherently.

"The devil you know is better than the devil you don't" is an idiom meaning something painful or unpleasant that you're familiar with is better than trading it for something unknown that could end up being worse than what you have now. He keeps saying to keep the hell away from him, so whatever it is must be something unfamiliar but probably worse, so he'd rather stay with the painful things he has now. Possibly trading his current painful life/state for a fakey religious life.

"You can still lead a positive life with a negative mind" Probably referencing how religious people "seem" to have a positive mind and lead a positive life (although it's usually hypocritical and insincere), but he believes when your mind/life is negative (mind negative from a negative life) you can still lead a positive life (helping others, treating others with the fruit of the spirit, e.g. kindness, grace, love, etc.).

I love this band. One of the most honest, real Christians in the music industry. :] If you don't know how they treat their fans, you should check out their Facebook page. It's freaking insane.