The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Sometimes I believe all the lies
So I can do the things I despise
And everyday I am swayed
By whatever is on my mind
I hear it all depends on my faith
So I'm feeling precarious
The only problem I have
With these mysteries
Is they're so mysterious
And like a consumer
I've been thinking
If I could just get a bit more
More than my fifteen minutes of faith
Then I'd be secure
[Chorus]
My faith is like shifting sand
Changed by every wave
My faith is like shifting sand
So I stand on grace
Stand on grace
I've begged You for some proof
For my Thomas eyes to see
A slithering staff, a leprous hand
And lions resting lazily
A glimpse of Your back-side glory
And this soaked alter going ablaze
But you know I've seen so much
And I explained it away
[Chorus]
Waters rose as my doubts resigned
My sand-castle faith, it slipped away
Found my self standing on Your grace
It'd been there all the time
[Chorus: x2]
Stand on grace
So I can do the things I despise
And everyday I am swayed
By whatever is on my mind
I hear it all depends on my faith
So I'm feeling precarious
The only problem I have
With these mysteries
Is they're so mysterious
And like a consumer
I've been thinking
If I could just get a bit more
More than my fifteen minutes of faith
Then I'd be secure
[Chorus]
My faith is like shifting sand
Changed by every wave
My faith is like shifting sand
So I stand on grace
Stand on grace
I've begged You for some proof
For my Thomas eyes to see
A slithering staff, a leprous hand
And lions resting lazily
A glimpse of Your back-side glory
And this soaked alter going ablaze
But you know I've seen so much
And I explained it away
[Chorus]
Waters rose as my doubts resigned
My sand-castle faith, it slipped away
Found my self standing on Your grace
It'd been there all the time
[Chorus: x2]
Stand on grace
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I love this song. It always makes me feel better when I'm feeling down.
caedmons call did a good job on this one, especially lyrically
One of my least favorite Caedmon's songs, but I still like it.
This is a pretty straightforward song with some vivid imagery. "Thomas eyes" is a reference to Thomas who wanted to see Jesus' wounds before he would believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. The lines after that are some classic Old Testament miracles- the first two featuring Moses and the third feat. Daniel. I don't know what "back-side glory" refers to, but "this soaked altar going ablaze" is a reference to Elijah and the prophet showdown with the 300 (i think) prophets of Ba'al. They prayed to Ba'al, but their altar didn't catch fire. Elijah soaked his altar and even filled a moat around it, but when he prayed to Yahweh (God) fire came from the sky and destroyed the entire altar, burning up the water and even the stones.
I believe the "back-side glory" is referring to Ex 33:18-23 where God passed by Moses in the cleft of a rock and allowed Moses to see his back side on Mount Sinai because no one can see God's face in full and live. After this Moses face glowed when he came down from the Mount.