Tested

Whoa... no one's talked about this song yet?

Hmmm... I've never heard this song before. From what I can tell, he's saying that life is a test you can't prepare for. Trying to over-prepare for it, like through religion or something, won't do anything since there are some cases and instances you can't control.

That's just a guess, though...

The reason no one has talked about this song is because it is a "rare" song (bad religion has 20 or so rare songs that are hard to find). I think you can find it as a download on one of the BR fansites but im not sure.

Regardless, the song, as the above said, is about life being a test without a guide and without a set design. Funny that BR puts "logic and passion". I'm assuming that it means that some of the answers just aren't logical so it makes it that much harder to do the "test". Remember people, there are always choices to make. That is, until "you reach your dark eternal sleep".

It's also on the album also called Tested, but since it's a live album most people assume it's just a compilation. It has quite a few great songs you won't hear on any other albums. I believe YouTube has a video or two of them performing it live, but other than that you probably won't hear it. It's an excellent song, though.

The lyrics are brilliant. I'm not quite sure what it means, but I'm assuming that it is about life. Much like both of the above responses say, it's has to do with getting through life, the "test". However, even though certain religions believe that life is a test to see if you are worthy of going to heaven, it seems that Bad Religion thinks otherwise with lines such as "There are no absolutes, no big wheels in the sky". It's an interesting song, I still don't completely understand it, but the general meaning seems to be about life.

It's an amazing song, it's a shame it is hardly known.

I heard this song after picking up a copy of the album "Tested".

I agree with beyond_opinion's uh opinion. that as well as a more general opinion on life it could be about an interpretation of many faiths (primarily Christianity). I.e. that your life is a 'test' to see if you are worthy of entrance into the afterlife ('a place free of trouble and care') which ends upon death ('your dark eternal sleep'). The songs speaks of the confusion amongst people trying to live to these ideals and ' navigating a tangled web of logic and passion', those who use ('bend') the ideals for their own needs, and the own opinion that there are no absolutes however 'straight and narrow' your path is.

I think the first paragraph explains it pretty well.

Yeah, they say there's a place free of trouble and care
And you have to pass a test for to make it there It has something to do with the road that's straight and narrow And the only way to go it is by being right and thorough

sorry pressed enter or something.

Yeah, they say there's a place free of trouble and care (heaven) And you have to pass a test for to make it there (life) It has something to do with the road that's straight and narrow
And the only way to go it is by being right and thorough (christian (religious) life)

He's explaining a christian view on life in an ironic way.

Then in the end he sais how he really sees it;

You can play by the rules or bend them to your knees But the test isn't over til you reach your dark eternal sleep There are no absolutes, no big wheels in the sky You don't have to be first, just gotta somehow get by

Not sure about the first two lines but the last two are pretty clear: there is no god, you just need to live your life