The Prayer Position Lyrics
Steal the flesh back from the starving static minds.
From nature we must stray, to clarity we'll climb.
Deadly impulse seems so natural,
just look beyond it and we'll find a brand new evolution.
Here begins a brand new line.
And in the distance there's a gathering,
that no longer seems so far away.
Pushed to our knees so let us pray,
and all together we'll bring the real rain.
Watch all that's wasted wash away, so let it come.
Our will be done.
Stature retrieved, regain our form.
Break free from instinct that's left us all confined.
From nature we must stray to clarity we'll climb.
Tradition ingrained, now impermissible.
Now comes a call for all to find a brand new evolution.
Here begins a brand new line.
I can't help but fear, look to my species and tremble,
to think that God is just...
And in the distance there's a gathering that no longer seems so far away.
i think this song is about a time in davey's life when he realized that he didn't need to live by a religion and other people's standards and morals.
hmmmmm im thinkin artica is right about this one..
I think this song means how Davey feels that religion isn't something that should be forced on you, that it is something that you need to find yourself if thats what you choose to do...and that you shouldn't just follow a religion just because it is a cultural tradition...but i also think he uses religion as a theme because religions emphasize strict moral values...Davey used to be sXe i believe, im not sure if he still is or not..but i think hes saying that also if you do not follow a religion or their values that you can't let natural urges or temptations from those around lead u in the wrong direction...i get that from "from nature we must stray to clarity we'll climb"..if you follow your beliefs you'll find your way...this just my opinion.
I don't think this song is about god coming to wash away the nonbelievers. I think this song is about people being bullied into being religious or something they are not, thus the line "Pushed to our knees so let us pray" I think they are being forced to pray for something they don't really believe, and that those who are being forced are getting fed up, "And in the distance there's a gathering, that no longer seems so far away." And when we do get fed up we'll "Bring the real rain" as in we'll be a major force to be reckoned with, as powerful as natures fury. I hope all that makes sense.
I agree with samuraideli and Madcappunk. I completely diagree with passionsignite, though.."all together we'll bring the real rain" doesn't have to mean anything about a flood, with "Deadly impluse seems so natural, just look beyond it and we'll find a brand new evolution" means that if you look beyond what YOU feel, and begin to be open-minded, you'll "find a brand new evolution", and that's what he's saying when he says "break free from instinct that's left us all confined", too...
Sorry, I, too have to jump all over passionsignite's opinion. Honestly, I have no idea where you can see that kind of meaning in this song. If you are really into AFI, you would recall the specific T-Shirt entitled "East Bay Hardcore" which depicts pentagrams on the front and a huge one on the back. Why, then, would he be implying that God "will come and wash away the non-believers"? This makes absolutely no sense. Anyhow, I agree with Madcappunk and Ankh. I'd like to elaborate on "Break free from instinct that's left us all confined" which I believe means that the "instinct" he is referring to is Christianity in particular (or any other religion for that matter noting their creator as "God"), and that being "confined" is the fact that you must abide by God's rites in order to achieve purity. The little rant he goes off on in the end about how "God is just" is, in my opinion translated as 'How can God be just if he created such a negatively driven species', more in-depth, that kills, hates each other, creates war on each other, so on.
Madcappunk is definitely right on this one, whoever send it's about the floods of God washing away the sins of people or something like that is wrong. Davey isn't a big believer of God in the christian style, I don't think. :crazy:
I think this song is something completely different. i think this song is about how people should break away from there violent instincts and evolve into a more unified species. he "looks to his species and trembles" because he sees all these people fighting and struggling and he knows it will go nowhere and if we just leave our violent instincts we will find a brand new evolution so to speak. watch all thats wasted wash away and start a new life. I dont really know how to put it into words but that is my view on this song
ok passioinsignite's... tell me this y does he say "pushed" to our knees so let us pray... i think the song means that society in general here in america is so fixed on religion and putting a religion other than urs down and saying it is wrong... and it is generally christians who force their religion upon other people that practice another faith.... so i think davey is saying that when he looks to his species and tremble hes talkin about how forcefull people can be about religion... im prolly wrong but thats my interpretation... peace all
yeah, havoc... good point... i dunno if that is the true meaning of the song, but that is a great interpretation... is anyone else here tired of X-tians forcing religion on others and discriminating against non-christians?!?