Time Bomb

If martians fell from the sky What would that do to God? Would we put the weapon down Or aim it up at the sky?

Best part of any song on the entire album.

As for Dave showing his Christian side and all that, I really doubt it.

"The idea that we’re somehow centrally important to the planet’s existence is pretty comical — although I’d like us to be. I’d like to think that the yes of some heavenly body are watching us and saying, ‘Oh, look at my beautiful children.’ But it’s absurd. It’s just our attempt to be more important than a tree.

I use the word "God" in my songs all the time, because I don’t know what the hell is going on. So that’s God — everything I don’t know. But the idea of God as a fatherly figure who looks down on us and worries about how we’re doing or takes sides when we have fights — it’s more irritating than Santa Claus. The world and the universe are far more wonderful if there’s not a puppet master."

-Dave

I like nspredator55's thoughts of overcoming depression. Much deeper than saying he just wants to start believing in God.

Dave was raised a Quaker, but is Agnostic. Here's an excerpt from a 2001 Boston Globe interview:

""'It would be safe to say that I'm agnostic,' Matthews says. 'However, I do feel as though we owe a faith to the world and to ourselves. We owe a grace and gratitude to things that have brought us here. But I think it's very ignorant to say, Well, for everything, God has a plan.' That's like an excuse. ... Maybe the real faithful act is to commit to something, to take action, as opposed to saying,Well, everything is in the hand of God.'"

My take on this song may be a little different from what Dave intended, but I instantly related to it. I was raised in a Christian Fundamentalist-type church, which fervently believes in a literal interpretation of the Old Testament and New Testament. I've not gone to church for about 5 years, and in that time, my views have changed completely. (I always had nagging doubts about what I was taught as a child anyway.) I am now somewhere between Agnostic and Atheist. I have learned so much since escaping that suppressive state of mind, and the more I learn, the more I evolve as a person.

While I don't regret changing my views, there are times I wish I could revert to the Christian state of mind, because sometimes it made life easier to be able to say "God has a reason for everything and Jesus is taking care of me." As they say, "Ignorance is Bliss." It's kind of like wishing to be a child and believing in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. I grew up, though, and have learned to embrace the beauty in the not knowing. You can never go back home.

Also, refer to the song "Dive In" on this album. I love the part that says: "though we would like to believe we are we are not in control though we would love to believe"

Eh-Hee, What You Are, Proudest Monkey, One Sweet World come to mind regarding the subjects of religion and evolution.

People love clinging onto the idea that they have all the answers. They want to believe that they can be forgiven for the crap they can't forgive themselves for doing (sin) or "wash away" all the things they regret. People want to believe they'll go somewhere better when they die. That's a basic emotional need, and God fills it for some people. I understand this. I know why people do it. Maybe Dave sometimes wishes life could be that easy. Just my thoughts, but I'm probably a fucking nut job. :p

I hate to just blow off what most people think....ya know how dave hates God, but i think its a bit of a show. if you truely listen to every lyric he has wrote it Jesus or God, its not i hate you. i feel a bit of respect somewhat... i believe this song has alot to do with him wanting to believe. you guys i think hit it head on with his sis, but i think that when he says

"baby when i get home help me pick up the pieces hammer in the final nail i want to believe in Jesus"

that he has decided he wants to believe. no more questioning it?

wow this song is full of pain. all the references to disbelief and requiring tangible proof before believing in something, it sounds like a horrible struggle. (possibly a reference to the pain of losing a loved one and having trouble coming to terms with the loss?)

This is about Dave having to deal with the murder of his sister by her husband who then turned the gun on himself

"no one would ever believe it, He was such a normal man"

And also dealing with his disbelief in "God" and wanting and answer from him about why he would let such a horrible thing happen to anybody, specially his own sister.

Peace

Personally, I think the time bomb is Dave maybe saying that its about time he showed his christian side more. After writing Christmas Song, it is hard to say that he is not a Christian in some way or at least believe in God/Jesus. Maybe he is double thinking what he believes, but who doesn't do that? Perhaps when he says "Hammer in the final nail and lean me up against Jesus" is his way of saying he is a sinner too and want to be forgiven. Perhaps, in a rather right out way, he is comparing himself to Jesus in saying that he is extremely influential too and now knows how hard it is to show what he believes because of so much controversy over every line he writes. Just my opinion though =)

I think this is a great discussion on the lyrics of this song. The question I think Dave poses here that I would assume the majority of the population of Earth question "Is their a God?" Regardless, if you Christian, Muslin or Buddhist people question is there more than this place. It brings in the frustration, anger, pain people suffer through this life and questions why did my son die, why did they bomb that county, questions of the mind and heart. I think this album (Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King) is one of the most humanistic and personal songs complied by the band in recent years. Pretty good for a few guys starting out in Charlottesville. Plus it's sweet that Reynolds is on this album!

IMO some others have hit this nail on the head. This song is a nod to the losses in his life & how unbelieveably they occured. His sister's death at the hands of her husband & LeRoi's untimely death due to complications from an accident.

Dave is agnostic bordering on atheistic (as am I) and writing seems to be his coping/healing mechanism. Perhaps he was depressed as some others have stated & needed to let go of some of those horrible feelings.

Makes me feel like Dave needs a big hug & lots of support from the people around him.

I love this DM song. As others have mentioned David is an agnostic leaning toward atheist (Or as I call it, that place in between entertaining delusions and facing reality). I am too. Who knows what any songwriter is really thinking at the time of writing a song but as an agnostic I think I get the meaning of this one. Most agnostics I have known, including myself, would love to believe in Jesus and the whole after-life fairy tail. Unfortunately there are just too many holes in the story and too many indications that it is all BS. I have been there, every verse of this song. I would love to believe in Jesus, but I don't and I can't change that but I will entertain the delusion sometimes, especially when life has me really down.

Damn, this is a powerful song.