Call And Answer

I actually think there is a platonic level to this song. I see them as a former couple who have ended a deep relationship but must now move on to being "friends". He offers his eternal help and assistance to her but not without judgement and conditions -- the whole "first to crucify you". To me, this is not the blind acceptance of two lovers but rather the conscious and critical oversight of friends. These two are not lovers anymore but they still share a deep bond to each other. It is for that reason that I love the song because it shows a higher level of emotional committment, one that is beyond sex and the romantic. To me, the song is a ode to the ex-girlfriend/ex-wife with whom you can no longer "be with" but who will always be a part of your life.

yep. I agree. they're coming back from a break of some sorts in some kind of relationship. things are going back to how they used to be - but they're coming to "the hardest part", because this is where it would be so easy for the other person to go back to what I assume ruined the relationship in the first place.

this isn't necessarily about a romantic relationship; I mean ... it's probably easier to construe that way, but I've had some friendships that definitely play along like this.

I love that he is saying "I'll be here for you ... but don't fuck it up" Sometimes in overeagerness to get back the GOOD parts of a relationship, people allow the bad stuff back in, too. He's not willing to stand for it, which is just so awesome.

i think they're trying to recreate a relationship after she's been in some sort of trouble (drugs? suicidalness? something like that?) that's made the relationship nearly impossible, and he's saying "it's not gonna be like it was. we made it through that and we're going to take it to the next level. it's not just about us as individuals anymore. we're going to be here for each other now." and i think the part about "if you ever do . . . i'll be the first to crucify you" is saying he cares so much that if she does something to destroy herself again he will be the first one to call her on it and will be the most angry about it.
whenever i used to ask my old boyfriend "what should i listen to going to sleep tonight?" he would always say this song. it's so funny because, though we were in a totally different situation than the characters in the song, i was totally all about taking it to the next level and being so in love with him, and he could never quite get there . . . (notice i said OLD boyfriend . . .) but he still really likes this song.

I just found a bit ago that my long term girlfriend had cheated on me within the last year. The first verse of this song is exactly how I feel now. I decided to stay together with her, but ever since then, I haven't been able to be myself around her. We're just getting to the point where we can trust each other again. I decided to give her another chance, and "point [her] home". "It's time to rebuild".

I’m warning you Don’t ever do Those crazy messed up things that you do If you ever do I promise you I’ll be the first to crucify you Now it’s time to prove That you’ve come back here to rebuild

...this proves that this man loves her but won't let her destroy him again

everyone is right here. its a good song about a guy and his gf who are trying to make their dying relatinship work

For me, this song is about a guy who left a girl back into his life eventhough she messed it all up before by cheating on him. Nothing could hurt more. But he loves her too much to be without her. Trusting her ever again is not something that is going to be easy if at all possible. He warns her not to do it again. And the "rebuild" part is almost a plea to make it how it was before. My opinon, eventhough its just a song, he shouldn't let her back in. If she cared enough in the first place they wouldn't have to rebuild.

This is a song about lovers who have had something traumatic occur. The person singing the song has been hurt by the person they're singing to; something awful and horrible. "where we have almost made amends"

Having been hurt again and again, the person singing the song has finally had enough. They love their significant other dearly, and thus are willing to give it one last try, but this song is to lament to their significant other that this is the last time. If anything happens again, they will leave.
"And if you court this disaster I'll point you home"

Complicating things, is of course the fact that the person doing the hurting doesn't think they are wrong, they have "justifications" for what they do. "You think I'm only here to witness The remains of love exhumed You think we're here to play A game of who loves more than whom" and "You think it's only fair to do what's best for You and you alone You think it's only fair to do the same to me When you're not home"

But the singer loves her. "And if you call, I will answer And if you fall, I'll pick you up"

And has laid out his ultimatum. "I think it's time to make this something that is More than only fair" "But I'm warning you, don't ever do Those crazy, messed-up things that you do If you ever do, I promise you I'll be the first to crucify you"

For her to never do whatever it is she did again. And shape up. "Now it's time to prove that you've come back Here to rebuild" That is my favorite and imo the saddest line. The singer is the one making all the effort in the relationship, but he's finally had enough, and needs her to start picking up the slack, and save their relationship.

Just some thoughts that have finally bubbled their way to the surface of my brain, after listening to this song for 25 years.

Steve is Jewish, and seems to have imbued a song about a rocky relationship, with overtones about a return of the supposed Messiah. "Crucify" (as in, Jesus), and "rebuilding" (as in, rebuilding the Temple)....

From what I've heard of him through the years, music-wise and in other formats, he (apparently) doesn't seem to have much use for Christianity's beliefs, ridiculing them as a silly mythology regarding a single mother and her bastard child.

It's interesting that he wants to use Jewish mythology with this particular song; the relationship compared to a (the) Temple, and his faith in this other hinges on their ability to "rebuild" it now that they've chosen to return, and being equally willing to crucify them for their faults.

[Edit: adding thoughts]

i think this is about someone who was in trouble with something in the past. now someone he cares about is saying "i'll help you, but you can't go back to what you used to do"