| Rush – Clockwork Angels Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| @jimmmmmG: Actually, if he were morally cultivated and wise and all (he does display a lot of that in earlier albums for sure), then he wouldn't be hating on Christians. So, that doesn't work. Now, as for his and I'm guessing your perception of Christianity, it is completely in denial of what it is. A part of Christianity's "function" I guess you could say, is about denying one's self of the worldly things for Godly things: virtue over vice, propriety over vulgarity, etc. etc. to name a couple. Christianity has restrictions in place (well, Orthodoxy does; can't speak for the other denominations and they seem not to have as much restrictions) to keep us from our own self destruction. Speaking to the part of judging without a measure of mercy...that is very much a lack of perspective on the different churches. Sure, some, for example, Fundamentalists, whom I call Fundees, believe (tend to) that they can tell who's going to Heaven or Hell because they are "saved." I have a friend who thinks that I'm on the wrong road because I listen to metal (and none of it has to do with Satanism and stuff, except one song which features it, but as something to be feared; it's used as an instrument to make the story scary in the song; the main character of the song is frightened by Satanists and the stuff). There, I get you, but that doesn't speak for everybody. The Orthodox Church, for example, does not believe you can tell who's going where. That's for God to decide. We do not think "Oh he's going to Hell" or whatever because we don't know. However poorly a person lives their life, we can never tell; we're only human. | |
| Dream Theater – On the Backs of Angels Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I think the song more is about the welfare crowd feeding off the corporations and businesses and how the Bamster is all about making the businesses suffer. I mean, that's why the scene goes all dark and filled with rain during the video: they're suffering under the White House's (Obama's) rule. The bums are living off food stamps and shit while the businesses are being taxed like mad and can't offer jobs to anyone. (Little economic lesson: when businesses are taxed big time, they can't employ people because they don't have as much money as before; then you get layoffs and the lazy people who were bums to begin with get to sponge off the govt. programs.) The new American dream is an ironic statement. The original American dream was all about working hard, earning good money. The NEW American dream is all about how little a person can work and yet still get food, shelter, things they don't earn, through govt. programs. The righteous are selfless because they, according to the taxes they get, have to give a lot over to the govt. for welfare programs. Well, maybe. It's a rough idea, my last bit. Anyway, that's how I see it. And yeah, the welfare crowd are being led to destruction like a lamb led to slaughter, especially those lazy bums who sponge off the working middle class. | |
| Megadeth – Holy Wars... The Punishment Due Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| So, Holy Wars is about...holy wars. It seems that Mustaine is pointing to Christians in general, given the Irish incident. Just don't initiate holy wars with each other, basically. But he also points to Israel. Does he mean to point to the Christians there? 'Cause as far as history tells, it seems to be the Muslims who start the violence. Now, he could be putting out the balanced approach. Yeah, Christians do it, but don't forget the Muslim factor. I mean, in the history of Israel, is it not the case that Muslims start the violence? | |
| Rush – Clockwork Angels Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| So, Neil takes the "I hate Christians" route out. He doesn't just disagree with them. His anonymity here makes it too obvious. If it weren't for the line from the Bible, this could easily be seen as another 2112 (it really is, just with God, not the music industry being the "bad guy"). One thing I don't get: what on earth did any Christians ever do to Neil that he should lash out like this? I mean, did they hit him with a Bible or something? Neil has shown himself to be a very bitter man, which makes it difficult for me to appreciate their music the way I used to. In high school, they were my idols, people I connected with, because the Subdivisions song was very true to what I was dealing with. I'm an Orthodox Christian with relatively strict moral principles, so I didn't party or go to certain movies like my fellow classmates did. I only keep in touch with two from high school, really. I mean to say...Christians never did Neil Peart wrong! All we want to do is support Rush's music and then he slaps us in the face. What's up with that? Well, those are my thoughts on this song, and the album as a whole, given it's the theme of it. And, even though jimcornete sounds like he may just be a moron, he makes some good points. | |
| Rush – Clockwork Angels Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I have to sympathize with you. I'm very disappointed and sad at this turn of events. From what I can gather (which may or may not be pure speculation), Neil is simply so grieved by the tragic events in his life (I cannot fathom the pain) that he has become very bitter. See, when he decided God didn't exist because of the tragic events in his life, he ran from God. When you run from God, you tend to become a bitter person. This whole Clockwork Angels thing was a huge turn off for me too. My idols, the people who were my inspiration during high school when all the other kids were too busy doing stuff I couldn't morally get into (don't watch R rated movies, I don't go to parties either...) decided to just slap their Christian fanbase. If only I could see it as just another, interesting dystopian story...but the anti-Christian theme runs too deep and too broad and obvious. I actually heard an interview with Neil Peart, it's an hour long and on youtube, where the interviewer says "So, you cast God as this (don't remember what exactly, but he's talking about the Watchmaker)" and Neil didn't correct him. That just as much tells us that Neil is anti-Christian. Now, in response to Thetower12, true, there have been some atheistic leanings, but nothing quite so in your face about it. Here, Neil is openly bashing Christianity, instead of politely disagreeing. Dickinson of Iron Maiden wrote "Starblind" in which, if I remember correctly, he just argues his viewpoint and how he sees Christians. He doesn't just openly "Hey, Christians, you're dumb" like Peart does with "Lean not on your own understanding, ignorance is truly bliss." As for being ungrateful...if one can write lyrics like these, knowing full well part of the fanbase is Christian, he's not a very grateful man. In any case, he's not as polite and gentlemanly as we all thought at first. He's shown his true colors, which is unfortunate. His song "Faithless" is his own belief system on display. It's not bashing other people's. That's different. As for "Love they neighbor," jimcornete is doing that: he's praying for Rush. I do too, after they did this. Whatever offense I incurred, I decided I would pray for them and try to push aside all the feelings of sadness and hate I have for them. Now, another thing to keep in mind is this: love they neighbor, yeah. But a spade is a spade. When a man puts music out there that openly bashes one's faith, you just don't listen to that. I don't. Nice Batman quote. And veryclere, don't be a jerk. Man up. |
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| Symphony X – The Divine Wings Of Tragedy Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I think that paradise, at the end of this song, may be used as an ironic word. Satan may be using the word paradise to make himself feel better about truly losing. I doubt Satan would "win" in a Symphony X song, given that the keyboardist is Christian. If he takes his faith seriously, I don't think he'd want to have Satan winning. Plus, Paradise Regained may be simply alluding the poem itself, whilst not actually using anything from it. It's based on the Gospel of Luke and deals with the temptations of Christ. This just may be stating that, at the end of his battle with God and Heaven and the Angels, Satan is just saying "Well, crap, I lost. Back to Hell, I feel better there." | |
| Symphony X – Set the World on Fire (The Lie of Lies) Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Right, so the lyrics on this page are somewhat incorrect. Where it says "Tempt the betrayers" it's supposed to be "Damn the betrayers" and I was wondering - who are the betrayers? Do you know? I mean, is Satan talking about Abdiel, 'cause he's only one who hung back from going against God again. Or is Satan talking about God and those who did not rebel against Him? | |
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