| Mike And The Mechanics – Silent Running Lyrics | 7 years ago |
| @[jr75:28812] I agree with your interpretation of the song - 99%. My only question is why the speaker would advise them to swear allegeance to any flag offered to survive, since the Bible makes clear in Revelation and elsewhere that doing so will qualify as rebellion from God and damnation. We are called to stand firm in our trust in Christ, even if it means physical death ... as the early church martyrs did, and which turned out to be a most powerful witness to the pagans of that day. | |
| Mike And The Mechanics – Silent Running Lyrics | 7 years ago |
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This song caught my attention when I first heard it on the radio in the mid-80s. The seemingly contrasting lyrics “don’t believe the church and state and everything they tell you” versus “Better you should pray to God, The Father and the Spirit, Will guide you and protect from up here” at first made me wonder where the lyricist was coming from. But after hearing it a few times and thinking about it, I understood it to mean that both the State and the official State Church had been subverted, and their messages now were parroting the Party Line of the invading (or occupying) party. Religion, specifically, has always been more of a controlling, enforcing movement than an establishment of faith and spirituality. (This is why Jesus Christ spoke so often against religion and religious leaders.) The direction to pray to God, Father and Spirit is further proof (IMHO) that the meaning is to avoid the State Religious machine, and to connect directly to God. Plus, the speaker says they will guide the listener “from up here,” or up in probably Heaven. Which leads to the question of why this speaker is contacting the listener from Heaven. He(?) is probably dead and trying to send a message - a la “Ghost” - to his still Earthbound family, giving them advice how to deal with the current crisis. His knowledge about a concealed gun and ammunition just inside the doorway adds to the suggestion that he is intimately familiar with the listener and her(?) home. I have always seen this as a Christian/spiritual song which follows the apocalyptic theme. In the End Times, this father(?) who has died already is attempting to help his family survive the fall of their civilization. It has always been very touching and meaningful to me, since I would want to do the same if I die before my family. Of course, there is also a good chance that anyone who has the opportunity to experience Heaven would be more encouraging about his family joining him in peace and joy. But, it was (presumably) written by someone on this side of death. Still a great ballad. |
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