Depeche Mode – Heaven Lyrics | 10 years ago |
It seems to be a song about escapism--with a religious theme. I'd specifically think it to be about an irreverent pastor who uses his position as a coping mechanism to deal with his death anxiety, and to prevent others from feeling that terror. "Sometimes I slide away, silently. I slowly lose myself, over and over." These lines, most poetically, can be read two ways: they can refer to the terror of existential anxiety, of knowing that you will someday not exist, which consumes the pastor, or the state of selfless bliss he feels when espousing his faith to his flock. "Take comfort in my skin, endlessly. Surrender to my will, forever and ever." The pastor feeds off of the love his congregation gives him. He is in control, and it is empowering. He becomes divine by espousing divinity. "I dissolve in trust, I will sing with joy, I will end up dust" The trust he is given takes him away from the terror of death--his words comfort others such that they needn't feel the terror of knowing they will die. He sings with joy--but he knows he'll "end up dust". This is important, because it reveals that he hasn't faith. He knows death to be a state of nonexistence. If he were truly faithful, he'd end up a soul... in heaven, so this whole thing is a charade for him. "I'm in heaven" He finds his salvation in the power and respect he is afforded as a pastor here on Earth, and his work convincing the others that they will not perish. It has nothing to do with God and everything to do with him. "I stand in golden rays, radiantly. I burn a fire of love, over and over." Again, his preaching is his escape. It is his drug, convincing others of some salvation, "saving" them but not really saving them. He spews love but knows that, in the end, there is nothing. All fires can die out. "Reflecting endless light, relentlessly. I have embraced the flame, forever and ever." More self-obsessed murmorings. He speaks of god relentlessly, obsessively. As a pastor, he is seen as a passionate advocate--but it is a burning passion, like a flame, and can cause damage. Flames also recall of hell, of the oblivion he knows he's headed to. "I will scream The Word, jump into the void" He'll speak of God and divinity, and he'll be the only one dealing with the void of death, whilst everyone else believes themselves to be saved. "I will guide the herd up to heaven." Referring to his congregation as a herd, like animals... he knows he's deluding them, but he feels it his obligation. They must not feel the terror he feels. |
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