I'm NOT Jesus

Sounds to me as if Corey is singing about being abused by a Catholic priest.

"Do you remember me, the kid I used to be" Asking the priest if he remembers the child that he abused, and then "Not the same as I used to be", as if he's not so defenseless anymore.

"I thought you were a good man, I thought you talked to God" again would support this view of it being about a priest, and then the line about abusing children stands for itself.

"Jesus wasn't there" could be referring to when he was abused, Jesus wasn't there to save him, and "I'm not Jesus, I will not forgive", Jesus may have forgiven him for his sins, but he hasn't.

"And the innocence you've spoiled" could be talking about all the over innocent children he has ruined.

Maybe I'm not looking deep enough, but this isn't exaclty a Tool song anyway. Just my thoughts.

I heard this song for the first time yesterday.. it's amazing.

this is probably the best line: "I'm not jesus i will not forgive."

Corey is amazing.

The video really shouldn't have a bearing on your interpretation of a song. In the vast majority of videos the songwriter has very little input on the content of the video. Especially if the undertones of a song are too controversial or don't make for a good video. Once you get directors, producers, and accountants into the mix the main purpose is money not meaning. It's much easier to imply meanings with words then it is in a video. Also many great song writers don't want the exact meaning of their lyrics to be known. Take about any Cornell or Maynard song. The videos usually have nothing to do with the song or even try to point the viewer in the opposite direction of what the song is really about.

I also find it difficult to say that the song has nothing to do with religion, priests, Jesus, or God. Maybe it doesn't, but it would be difficult to say that it clearly is not about these things. It seems to me that the song is about people who use the veil of Christianity and religion to justify wrongs that they have done. Many religious people have become so arrogant that they honestly believe that confessing their sins sets everything right. When in actuality all it does is makes things alright for them so they can move on. This song is about the lives that are forever changed or wrecked in many instances by the actions of these so called "good men/people". In your mind Jesus may have forgiven you, but just so you know I can never forget and won't forgive you. Check out if you haven't yet --> A Perfect Circle - The Noose. It deals with some of the same issues.

most ppl seem to take the religious references too literally . its more about child abuse in general than boys gettin rape by priests . i just take it as them tryin to paint a picture with the lyrics. & i love this song cuz my stepdad was abusive and he was a christian . but after i made him see how evil he had become he stopped goin to church cuz he realized he was such a hippocrit . i wish he had chosen church over bein an abuser tho :/

man the song owns by the way, it features Corey Taylor from SlipKnoT. and that's why it fucking owns.

maybe it's about Corey's father? "OH DO YOU REMEMBER ME? NOOOOOOOOOOOO"

anyways, i can relate to it.

To me it means that christians are just people who make mistakes (and that many bad things are done under cover of religion), that confessing does not solve the problem (even if you truly regret) and that there are things people do which you will always hate them for - for example child abuse as I think this song is perticulary about. Best line to me: "You confess it all away but its only shit to me"

LurkMoar you're right - apparently this song is about priests who abuse(d) chidren, though I don't know about Corey Taylor. It's a hell of a good song, Corey's voice fits in perfectly and gives it a really haunting edge. Also I love the strings in it - the cellos etc. Amazing song, Corey Taylor is love

Apocalyptica boys rocks.FINNISH BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think this song it about a priest. I think it about a father. An abusive father, maybe an alcoholic father. But one that believes in god, and tries perhaps to broadcast a façade of perfection and Christianity on the world outside their 'family'. And about leaving the town you grew up in and then returning years later, and to father… In the video...i can't understand...are the kids meant to be Apocalyptica? And the painting the family on the TV, may be a plea, a sign to his father who spends more time on watching Tv than on his son?

i thought this song was about a priest who molested children, though it could be about a father (or mother) that molests or abuses their kid. though the "bury your desires" line makes me lean towards a priest.

i thought it was "your god ain't looking down on me" not "good god he's looking down on me" that seems to make more sense with the rest of the song. also, i thought it was "i won't do whatever you want to". and it's "turned satanic"...

anyways, i absolutely love this song. it stays stuck in my head and i can listen to it over and over again. corey taylor's voice really fits in with the cellos. and since i actually play in orchestra i can really appreciate apocalyptica. i plan on buying their worlds collide album soon.