The Jesus Lizard

(This is what I remember Josh posting on their site)

The basilisk is commonly referred to as the Jesus lizard because it will randomly sprint across water. So the poem is about how the Jesus lizard tries to be like Jesus but fails...much like we do.

I haven't heard all of the new album yet, but what I have heard is amazing. And so is this track.

Reptiles in this album clearly represent humanity, so the Jesus lizard is a human attempting the role of Jesus. I believe it's also more referring to Josh admitting that he, and many others, have had to be their own Jesus, or produce their own salvation, observe:

I tried to run across the water and I sank into the deep (I belive "running across the water" is a triple entendre, firstly referring to the Basilisk, or "The Jesus Lizard" which can run short distances across water, which then refers to Jesus walking on the water, and thirdly I see it as a metaphor for attempting to achieve salvation on one's own.) Listlessly beneath the sea, within it’s murky keep (Lost in sin, perhaps? Or worse, lost in pride and delusion.) I want to keep my dinner down but I threw it up today (Bulemia: a common theme in this album along with bugs and reptiles. I see it as binging on sin, or life, and then vomiting it out, rejecting it and proclaiming how disgusting it is, only to ingest it yet again later. See how agonizingly propelled without delay?

I can’t breathe and I don’t want to anymore

The Jesus lizard tried to love but it’s heart was made of lead (Josh's earlier attempts a love were futile without Christ.) He could not move the way love does so he faked it all instead (Any Christian is familiar with "going through the motions") The Jesus lizard wants to be the center of your ray of light (Pride and sense of not needing Christ becomes and idol) But any light he has yet to see, no light is in his sight I tried to pull the nails from you Out of your hands and feet And when I tried I made you die and yet you came back for me (Betraying Christ in the worst way, attempting to get along without him after this sacrifice.) If I drag myself throughout this world If I throw up everyday Will you still see that I’m still here? I’m waiting in all of my ways

"I am God" the lizard said Alpha, omega end with me The sun was hot upon his head So he tried to run across the sea

intriguing theory ominousoat....i like it

i think when it talks about shedding our skin i think it means that we have our old body and when we become a christian we lose what we were and become a new creation "if any man is in christ he is a new creation"

I always thought this was about Satan. Not us.

"The Jesus lizard wants to be the center of your ray of light But any light he has yet to see, no light is in his sight"

Satan (Jesus Lizard) wants us to focus on him or rather what is not of God, but he can fail, because he himself knows not of the light (God) so he can't pretend perfectly.

That's how I've interpreted it.