the first 4 lines i interpret as aspects of the catholic religion. catholics are taught that good=following god's word and evil=giving into sin/satan. as one who as been exposed to catholicism, we are taught to fear God, that the fear of the lord is the beginning of knowledge. it is ironic though because the one thing we are taught to fear, we are also expected to love, respect, and accept, "they told me how they fear it now they're placing it on their tounges", as in communion where we eat the body of christ. it is hard and confusing for one to blindly accept these intangible beliefs, unless one sees god, or the benefits of believing in a god, with their "own eye"s. faith has to be obtained by one's own accord, and should not be forced upon someone. i agree with jacklit on the quest for enlightenment/the meaning of life, we are all trying to find something higher to believe in and everyone goes about it in a different way, whether its fasting ("no food or water....) or meditation ("quietly he sat beneath the folds of a tree trunk...") but there is no definitive way to achieve spiritual serenity. its an individual journey, hence the repetition of "oh to see it with my own eyes". everyone's path to spirituality and to a divine being of their understanding is different. the last two lines seem to be saying, there is no point trying to establish a manual for spirituality, no use in trying to figure out if the after-life is real, if any particular religion is right or wrong, it is a matter of opinion and a matter of whatever works for each specific person. just thoughts, there's probably much more to this song, this is just what i gather.
the first 4 lines i interpret as aspects of the catholic religion. catholics are taught that good=following god's word and evil=giving into sin/satan. as one who as been exposed to catholicism, we are taught to fear God, that the fear of the lord is the beginning of knowledge. it is ironic though because the one thing we are taught to fear, we are also expected to love, respect, and accept, "they told me how they fear it now they're placing it on their tounges", as in communion where we eat the body of christ. it is hard and confusing for one to blindly accept these intangible beliefs, unless one sees god, or the benefits of believing in a god, with their "own eye"s. faith has to be obtained by one's own accord, and should not be forced upon someone. i agree with jacklit on the quest for enlightenment/the meaning of life, we are all trying to find something higher to believe in and everyone goes about it in a different way, whether its fasting ("no food or water....) or meditation ("quietly he sat beneath the folds of a tree trunk...") but there is no definitive way to achieve spiritual serenity. its an individual journey, hence the repetition of "oh to see it with my own eyes". everyone's path to spirituality and to a divine being of their understanding is different. the last two lines seem to be saying, there is no point trying to establish a manual for spirituality, no use in trying to figure out if the after-life is real, if any particular religion is right or wrong, it is a matter of opinion and a matter of whatever works for each specific person. just thoughts, there's probably much more to this song, this is just what i gather.
i like this interpretation. very gnostic.
i like this interpretation. very gnostic.