Clear To Pass

Andrew (lead singer) said: This song I wrote in response to the first moment I realised that I was depending on Antiskeptic for a feeling of self worth. In a band, you get to travel, meet new people, have heaps of fun and be the recipient of many people’s admiration. It’s very easy to slip into your own private universe, fed by the praise of an audience. You also become completely self-absorbed and dislocated from all you set out to do. The song name stems from an instance in my life when God pulled me up and challenged me on a few things, such as self belief and selfishness. Once I had learnt from this, I was ‘Clear to pass’ to the next stage and whatever lessons He had for me.

Hold my flag high sweet surrender I fed myself and I’m so sorry Lifted up and I began believing Words of affirmation Taken from their rightful owner Clear to pass distraction is defeated

I don’t believe that it is through years of practice and jamming that I have developed my skills as a song writer. I believe that God gave me this gift as a blessing and as a vehicle for Him to teach me. So with the second half of this verse, I am referring to the praise that in the past I have taken onboard, when it wasn’t mine in the first place.

Even though I am a vessel Surrounded by a thousand angels My mind forgets, neglects at times complacent Feed this mind with wisdom Avoid all thoughts premeditated Life is at it’s best in simplicity too

This verse is of a contemplative nature, a summing up of what I’d learnt from the first verse. I believe that God protects us and leads us, though it is our responsibility to be prayerful and not take for granted His provisions and protection over us. The second half of this verse is a request that God grant wisdom and the last few lines are a reminder to myself of a few simple life truths.

And I am nothing but a slave As self belief will lie and keep me down My selfishness now lies in waste I’ve learned to keep my eyes on the people who’ve fallen

I don’t believe that we as humans can believe in ourselves and live completely fulfilled lives. I also believe that selfishness is an express train to loneliness. What I mean by ‘the people who’ve fallen’ is the people who have had a rough trot in life and are perpetuating the cycle of whatever has been passed to them, such as depression, alcohol abuse, loneliness, greed etc.

Broken I’m down falling Broken I fall into place Broken I’m down falling Broken I fall into place

The word ‘broken’ in this instance isn’t negative. If you have pride, anger, jealousy in your heart, it will cripple and enslave you. If you ask God, He will break it from you, setting you free and into place.

Building all on faith and only Saying what is good and noble Relentless mouthpiece for the people I love Clear to pass and worthy I do nothing for His perfection All I am and even need to be too

The first half of this verse is living out what I learnt in the first verse. It’s the second two lines in this verse that may require some unpacking. Genesis 1:27 talks about how man is made in the image of God. Therefore it is not our acts that make us more holy and blameless in His sight, it is how close in relationship we are to Him. The last line is a reference to God’s provision over my life. He has made me all that I am, and He will provide me all that I will need in the future.

wow. awesome.