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The Philosophy Of Loss Lyrics

welcome to why the church has died
and the heart of the exile and the kingdom of hate
who owns the land and keeps the commands
and marries itself to the state

modern scribes write in jesus christ
everyone is free
and the doors open wide to all straight men and women
but they are not open to me

who is teaching kids to be soldiers
to be marked by a plain white cross
and we kill just a little to save a lot more
the philosophy of loss

now there are a few who would be true
out of love and love is hard
and don't think that our hands haven't shoveled the dirt
over their central american graveyards

doctors and witch hunters stripped you bare
left you nothing for your earthly sins
yeah but who made this noise just a bunch of boys
and the one with the most toys wins

and who is teaching kids to be gamblers
life is a coin toss
and of course what you give up is what you gain
the philosophy of loss

whatever has happened to anyone else
could happen to you and to me
and the end of my youth was the possible truth
that it all happens randomly

so who is teaching kids to be leaders
and the way that it is is meant to be
the philosophy of loss
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Cover art for The Philosophy Of Loss lyrics by Indigo Girls

Wow. This is Emily Sailiers' deepest and most poetic song, and that's really saying something. This song is an attack on organized religion and on society as a whole. "We kill just a little to save a lot more" is a common cry against war, but she means so much more. She is saying that as a homosexual she has been made a sacrifice to God by mainstream believers. They are comforted, at least subconciencely, by the fact that there is a bad guy (or girl) with a face and name in front of them, someone going to Hell so they know they are going to Heaven. I am reminded of one of the Bible verses most overlooked by Christians: "Why do point out the twig in your fellow's eye when you fail to see the log in your own eye?" People are unwilling to accept their own faults and instead try to show God the faults of others. This song is a wonderful snapshot of so many people's fears and their means of dealing with that fear. The world would be such a better place if everybody could hear this song and understand that message

Cover art for The Philosophy Of Loss lyrics by Indigo Girls

Oh, and some of the words in the first verse are wrong, and even though it's subtle, it still changed the meaning of the song. The real lyrics are:

"Welcome to why this church has died in the heart of the exiled from the kingdom of hate'

Cover art for The Philosophy Of Loss lyrics by Indigo Girls

This song is about gay Christians. Many churches won't accept us. "The doors open wide to all straight men and women but they are not open to me." I grew up Baptist. I love the old hymns and I love God. I am a Christian, and I know that Jesus loves me, but it hurts that I am surrounded by church buildings on every corner but I am not welcome there.

The line "There are a few who would be true, out of love, and love is hard." Refers to the small number of churches and ministers who do welcome gays. They open their doors in love to all God's children. It is hard because other churches attack them. This line also refers to gay clergy who want to follow their calling out of love for God and for humanity but there are few places that will allow them to serve.

 
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