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I know what I wanted
I know what I wanted
I know how I wanted this to be
You go down to the water
Drink down of the water
Walk up off the water, leave it be
This is not my time, sister
It is cold in heaven
And I'm not sprouting wings
I'm drowning
Me
I'm drowning
Me, yeah
Brother can you see those birds?
They don't look to heaven
They don't need religion, they can see
They go down to the water
Drink down on the water
Fly up off the water, leave it be
This is not my time, sister
It is cold in heaven
And no one's coming after me
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
Breathing ourselves
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
You know I am tired
Cold and bony tired
Nothing's gonna save me, I can see
I can't say I'm fearful
I can't say I'm not afraid
But I am not resisting, I can see
I don't need a heaven
I don't need religion
I am in the place where I should be
I am breathing water
I am breathing water
You know a body's got to breathe
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
Breathing ourselves
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
Breathing ourselves
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
I know what I wanted
I know how I wanted this to be
You go down to the water
Drink down of the water
Walk up off the water, leave it be
This is not my time, sister
It is cold in heaven
And I'm not sprouting wings
I'm drowning
Me
I'm drowning
Me, yeah
Brother can you see those birds?
They don't look to heaven
They don't need religion, they can see
They go down to the water
Drink down on the water
Fly up off the water, leave it be
This is not my time, sister
It is cold in heaven
And no one's coming after me
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
Breathing ourselves
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
You know I am tired
Cold and bony tired
Nothing's gonna save me, I can see
I can't say I'm fearful
I can't say I'm not afraid
But I am not resisting, I can see
I don't need a heaven
I don't need religion
I am in the place where I should be
I am breathing water
I am breathing water
You know a body's got to breathe
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
Breathing ourselves
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
Breathing ourselves
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
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As an atheist, I think this song has some major points that really makes sense. For instance the focus on being conscious about independence ("I know what I wanted, I know how I wanted this to be"). And the focus on being independent shines through in the last verse, where the narrator is tired, but still he manages to push on through instead of being broken down. Why? Because he knows that he is where he's supposed to be, and he knows that he doesn't need religion. What's important isn't a fictive "god", but the creations inside of yourself.
The metaphor about breathing water makes me think about the way science explains our evolution, and evolution beats religion when it comes to how humans are created. We are, most likely, improved after small molecules in the water (hence the "breathing water" lyric). So, it's a song about knowing yourself and understanding what's around you. At least to me.
As an atheist, I'm sure you are aware that reality need not have any resemblance to the way you wanted it to be.<br /> <br /> I do think he sees some peace in agnosticism, at least. He sees it in the birds and would like to emulate it for himself. I don't think he has found it, though. Acceptance, maybe, but not peace.