The Color of Right

This song draws an analogy between two different redshift effects, where the color (and wavelength in general, once it gets outside the range of visible light) of light from far away changes due to the expansion of the universe and gravitational fields, and the understanding of what is right and good in a situation.

"Cosmological redshift is seen due to the expansion of the universe, and sufficiently distant light sources (generally more than a few million light years away) show redshift corresponding to the rate of increase of their distance from Earth. Finally, gravitational redshifts are a relativistic effect observed in electromagnetic radiation moving out of gravitational fields." -Wikipedia

Hence: "Gravity and distance change the passage of light."

The song describes the understanding of what is right as having to do with a balance of justice and mercy, informed by knowledge about the situation -- "a quantity of light."

But here too, "gravity and distance" -- in which gravity assumes its other definition, having to do with the seriousness and urgency of the situation -- change our understanding of a situation, and even its objective nature. "Gravity and distance change the passage of light," and since that light, that understanding, is a crucial part of determining what is right, "gravity and distance change the color of right," just as they change the color of light from distant galaxies.

This explains "You're so full of what is right you can't see what is true," and "I'm so full of what is right I can't see what is good." Dogmatic systems of morality, and the determination to adhere to them, often blind people to looking at the true nature of a situation to understand the truth about them. Unwilling to look outside their ethical rules and see if something different is required, they ignore or don't bother searching for the truth, or even basic common-sense goodness, so that they can force their understanding and their moral judgment into their understanding of what is right, rather than improving their understanding of what is right by considering the situation they face.

Things aren't always black and white. What is right is sometimes a matter of perspective (gravity and distance). It's about being open-minded and being able to compromise or appreciate another point of view. Excellent song in more ways than one.

I don't have an explanation For another lonely night I just feel this sense of mission And the sense of what is right

The feeling of justice is stronger than the hedonia in some people.

Take it easy on me now I'd be there if I could I'm so full of what is right I can't see what is good

Sometimes doing the right thing is paradoxically not the right thing... The Colors of Right are relative.

It's a hopeless situation Lie awake for half the night You're not sure what's going on here But you're sure it isn't right

The awareness of the paradox of the concept of what's truly right...What's really true..

Make it easy on yourself There's nothing more you can do You're so full of what is right You can't see what is true

It's not easy to get the real meaning of what is right, because the truth lies behind the circumstances.

A quality of justice A quantity of light A particle of mercy Makes the color of right

A flat concept of what Right is all about

Gravity and distance Change the passage of light Gravity and distance Change the color of right

Circumstances change the color of Right.

-GrayWolf

I see:

1. Many people want (and even think they need) stark black-and-white categorizations of what is wrong and/or right (giving them a clear "sense of mission"), and have trouble dealing with situations that don't lend well to such clear absolutes (even keeping them up at night).

2. Sometimes the right thing to do isn't simply the Absolute Right Thing, but something that's perhaps a bit more "good" than "right".

3. The actual right thing to do may depend on circumstances and your relation to the issue at hand (gravity and distance), which affect your perspective of and effect on the situation (i.e., the "light" the helps define your "right").

It's about choosing what's good over what's right. Like, it's good to feed you're family, but it's not right to steal to do so.

I think this song is about procrastination of a good person. "People are basically descent, convential wisdom would say" All us have good in us, but it can be hard to apply it to the cruel world we live in. Does this make sense? Any how, every time I hear this song it gives me a good feeling inside. -Thotw