Cause = Time

The references to religion can't be taken at face value. It would be incredibly pedestrian to skewer religion with analogies about ... religion. Kevin Drew mentions traits about religion to mock something else entirely. So yes, he is talking about religion, but also about something else.

Based on the chorus, I had initially thought they were mocking the sudden ubiquity of "hipster" culture by likening it to blind religious faith.

Now I see the song's theme as using religious fervor as an analogy for right-wing politicians and media outlets selling political fervor.

Notice that it's never mentioned that people need the cause ITSELF -- just that they need to be it, feel it, dream it, fuck it. The cause itself isn't doing them any good, it's just their own determination to be obsessed with it that drives them on.

The "they" here are mid- or low-income Republicans who have been sold on ideas that will actually financially harm them -- such as measures that support the deregulation of big business -- by making it appear to be an issue of morality.

I take the word "cause" to mean "money." There is the saying that "time = money,' hence the song title.

When he says "you" I believe he is in a dialogue with money/cause. This works on several levels.

"You come in, check my time"

The first level here is that you (money) comes in the form of a check, and he is essentially being paid for his time. The second level is that when money is present/available, he checks his time because he is anxious/focused on getting that money.

"I've seen your hope on television"

Could be a reference to seeing actors/athletes on TV; money provides hope that people will one day be rich and famous, but very few reach that point. As a result, actors/athletes on TV represent the hope that money provides.

"Where you've been, you were my word"

Money is really based off of an agreed upon promise that everyone will continue to believe in its value. If you want a car, you give the dealer money, and you are also giving them your word, albeit unspoken, that the money has value. Obviously, a bank note or check has no real value beyond our commitment to pretending it does.

"And they all want to love the cause 'Cause they all need to be the cause They all want to fuck the cause"

Being attracted to money and devoting your life and energy to getting money and being rich is "the cause."

this was the first song i head by broken social scene and i immediatley fell in love with it. it is still my favourite song bby them ecause it brings back so much to me. it is so nice musically and also vocally. it's very catchy too. to me the song means something else rather than what he's actually talking about. i didn't know what he was talking about until i read the lyrics here. for me it was something totally different. but now that i have read the lyrics i think he's talking about the church. about how going against it got you in a whole load of shit and you just got burned, back in the days. the cause is what everyone wants, which (in my opinion) is god or a connection with him. but it's in a modern-day mode, not 1400's mode. the "waiting room that wants to save your life" could be heaven and "separatuib is divine" could be dieing and leaving earth. there's a lot of controversy in the song and my opinion changes about every single time i play the song, but overall he's talking about religion. i like this song a lot.

one thing i think of besides all the things mentioned is that people need something to believe in and be behind to pass time. to make everything seem worth it. therefore Cause = Time.

or perhaps the christian cause gives you eternal time.

and maybe the guy was molested in 89 or just gave up his faith in 89.

the "Desparation Tentacles" make me think of someone just swinging out randomly hoping to catch on to something because he's so desparate to believe in anything.

separation from church or faith is divine. maybe a political slant with church and state.

personally i dont think any of you are even remotely close, never the less great song.

ummm... this is one of the best songs ever written. that is a fact, not opinion.

second, isn't the FIRST two lines...

"You come in, check my time You've GOT fornication crimes"

(not "you for fornication crimes")

am i wrong?

I don't really care what this song means - I love the drums and guitars on this track. The entire song is one long crescendo into a cacophony of awesomeness. These guys can really write, and play their axes! :)

(well, actually, I do care what the song means .. but I can never listen to the words long enough, I keep re-focusing on the instrumentals)

I Like This Song. There's so much truth in these lyrics as stated how their stated. At a first listen, I think their talking about those preachers on t.v.? I'm not sure yet. Just got the cd, and it hasn't left my cd player.

the little guitar solos in this song make me dance

yeah the little guitar solos are orgasmic, nearly.