After The Devil Beats His Wife

Okay that double posted and also I noticed I made a grammatical error. It should say, "The water's too DEEP" not "too seep." That was stupid.

"Wash him clean" for...

• The fact that his mouth betrayed him and said "hold on", even when he thought that the river will take them under. (Meaning he is also the one who eventually made them swim in the river.)
• The fact that he "said to his friend that he will be saved" yet knowing that it's not true just "by looking at his face".
• The fact that after knowing that his friend couldn't be saved, his friend still kept telling him that "it's OK".

So, it's just a thought of Guilt that could only be known between him, his friend (who eventually dies) and the river. Wash him clean for all the false hopes that he (and probably his friend) has made made.

I'm mostly with EveryEmotion on this one. From the first time I heard the song, I've always thought that "this is the pain of believing, and there's no easy way out", in conjunction with "and they say you will be saved, but no...your face tells me you won't be free", meant that as a believer in Jesus Christ, you may share your faith with those whom you are close to and love, but sometimes they will reject and not believe, even to the point of death. For a believer in Jesus to have a loved one die that doesn't know Christ, it is one of the most painful feelings, even though they still have their joy in Christ, hence "after the devil beats his wife" and "you wanna swim in the river, I wanna dance in the summer". Also, the singer in the song could be experiencing the "pain of believing", because he is a Christian, but chose to not talk about it with his friend, for fear that it might not go over well, so he chose to hide his true self, but now is regretful for doing so, with his friend now dying or dead. I believe this can be seen in the bridge of the song; his decision to hide the Truth, because of his realization that "people want the truth but never want the scars", and now his regret seeing his "best friend dying" while he's "the one that's still lying", with him still feeling the "pain of believing" and regret, even with someone saying "it's gonna be OK" multiple times.

No amount of words can bring comfort when it comes to a believer in Christ having a loved one die outside of Christ, even if they shared the Gospel with them. This pain is even greater if they know they are partially at fault for not being real and sharing the Truth with their loved one before their death. "This is the pain of believing, and there's no easy way out."

I have no idea what he's screaming at the end so any help with that would be appreciated, along with any lyrical corrections. As for the song, I like it even though its definitely different from their previous two albums, haven't really thought about its meaning yet though

it sounds like he's screaming "never watch me cry" at the end.

Correct lyrics:

You want to siwm in the river I want to dance in the summer You've always been the believer, I'm always left to wonder. The water's rushing so fast, I think it will take us under

Oh, what thought did you recall, that would make you say my name? The water's too seep, our friends say, "Don't Go." But my mouth betrays me and says, "Hold on!"

And now I know, this is the pain of believing. The danger is real and there is no easy way out. How did I get here? You trust too much in my bravery. It's my safety you are taking.

We are going to drown in the river. I cannot swim any farther. My blood is pumping so fast to my heart and limbs underwater.

But I reach and find your hands in mine. And I say, "You will be saved!" I pull and I pull and I pull. But your foot is anchored deep. Your face tells me you won't be freed.

I decided long ago never let your loved ones know who you really are. People want the truth but never want the scars. And now I'm here with my best friend dying. And I'm the one that's still lying. And you say it's going to be okay. Over and over again.

River, wash me clean.

Correct lyrics:

You want to siwm in the river I want to dance in the summer You've always been the believer, I'm always left to wonder. The water's rushing so fast, I think it will take us under

Oh, what thought did you recall, that would make you say my name? The water's too seep, our friends say, "Don't Go." But my mouth betrays me and says, "Hold on!"

And now I know, this is the pain of believing. The danger is real and there is no easy way out. How did I get here? You trust too much in my bravery. It's my safety you are taking.

We are going to drown in the river. I cannot swim any farther. My blood is pumping so fast to my heart and limbs underwater.

But I reach and find your hands in mine. And I say, "You will be saved!" I pull and I pull and I pull. But your foot is anchored deep. Your face tells me you won't be freed.

I decided long ago never let your loved ones know who you really are. People want the truth but never want the scars. And now I'm here with my best friend dying. And I'm the one that's still lying. And you say it's going to be okay. Over and over again.

River, wash me clean.

This is a tricky one. I feel as if them drowning has to mean something, but Im not sure if it drowning in the river means drowning in sins, because at the end it says "River, wash me clean." so maybe wash me clean means wash me clean of my sins. but if thats the case then him drowning in the river couldn't mean that he was drowning in his sins.

confusing song, but very good.

yeah i was confused about that part too..but i dont know...i think the song is so powerful at the bridge and the music after it...especially when he says "people want the truth but never want the scars". SO true

I don't know anything about what the song means but I read in an interview with Devon or Toby, that "After the Devil Beats His Wife", is what they call it when it's sunny and raining in the south. a nice little shibboleth.