Cross to Bear

I think some of the lyrics might not be right...although, I'm not positive that my corrections are right...but I think it should be: Hafdis Huld & Tricky: Jesus said to Mary, you really can come I'm tired, love, and I'm feeling real numb Gotta see if my father's come (gone?) I'm under pressure, while I'm under the sun

Father, priest expects me to lead Leaves, it's easy, wants me to bleed I'm scared, Magdalene and I fear I'm lost I won't lie, don't wanna die on no cross

Track through the streets, with nails in my feet Wanna stay and lay with you, you're sweet

It's not my cross to bear No, I don't care

When I'm dead, they say I rise again If I come, will you still be here then? If I run, will you run with me too? We'll hiding inside And find a space for two

Eat with friends before we leave Madgaline said, "be careful, friends deceive." Free my chains

It's not my cross to bear No, I don't care

Tricky: Premature, don't wanna die on no cross

Hafdis Huld & Tricky: When I'm dead, he wears my body and fame (feet?)

Tricky: Premature, don't wanna die on no cross

Hafdis Huld & Tricky: When I'm dead, he wears my body and fame (feet?)

Tricky: This is not my cross to bear No, I don't care.

I am absolutely in love with this song...to the point that it brought me to tears. I just bought this cd about 2 days ago and I've already listened to this song about 50 times.

I think it's a beautiful view of the human side of Jesus. I'm not particularly religious, but I think this song is to remind us that the story of Jesus is supposed to be more than just about divinity. I think it Hafdis Huld's voice is perfectly angelic here too. Jesus is having a conversation with Mary Magdalene. Although the bible does not interpret it this way, Mary Magdalene just might have been Jesus' best friend and lover. Here, he's telling her that he's scared to be the one with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I'm under pressure, while I'm under the sun

• This could mean basically what I said above but I think this particular line might go a bit further to say that while he's in human form on the earth...meaning that perhaps there are other ways in which he exists, but for humans to understand, he needs to be human.

Track through the streets, with nails in my feet Wanna stay and lay with you, you're sweet

• I think this is talking about the trail to the cross...in Catholic/Christian stories, the Stations of the Cross, when Jesus is walking through on his way to being crucified. As a human, he'd rather stay with Mary Magdelene than have to do this.

When I'm dead, they say I rise again If I come, will you still be here then? If I run, will you run with me too? We'll hiding inside And find a space for two

• This is talking about the resurrection (Easter morning). He's asking Mary Magdeline if she'll wait for him. When he returns, they'll go somewhere to be together, be it physically or spiritually.

Eat with friends before we leave Madgaline said, "be careful, friends deceive."

• I think this is talking about the last supper and perhaps about Judas.

This is the first time I'm posting anything on here, so, sorry if it's too long. Anyway, this song is abolutely beautiful. In the bible, which contains only gospels written by men (since mainly only men received education and thus became literate), Mary Magdalene is described as soley a prostitute. However, I don't think that's how it really was. And it's a beautiful way to redefine the religion. A true "message of love" is not sexist or biased. The union of Jesus and Mary Madgalene might be what Tricky is trying to portray here. This idea is similar to the concept of yin and yang. If Jesus was to be human and divine...to ignore or discredit the humanity is to belittle the divinity, because the sacrifices made to be "divine" are humanly experienced.

My personal beliefs lead me to think that each one of us is "bearing" some kind of cross in this life. And it's important to consider both your feminity and masculinity when "tracking through the streets."

This song reminds me a lot of Tool's "Lateralus." ...talking about the humanity and divinity within us all.

Of course, this is my interpretation, I would love to hear other people's.

Sorry...it should be, "We'll hide inside." not hiding.

I also think that the lines: Hafdis Huld & Tricky: When I'm dead, he wears my body and fame (feet?)

could be: When I'm dead, they raise my body and feed (in referece to the idea of holy communion)

Also, I spelled Magdalene about 2 or 3 different ways...not really sure which way is correct.

Just found out...this song is a meditation on Scorcese's, "The Last Temptation of Christ." This info is from Hafdis Huld's website. Good stuff.

Thank you for your insightful interpretation...I agree with most of it. Isn't this just one of the best songs ever? I'm making a "best of 2008" CD and this gem will be on there.