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In Stitches Lyrics
my body bangs and twitches
some brown liquor whets my tongue
my fingers find the stitches
firmly back and forth they run
i need no other memory
of the bits of me i left
when all this lethal drinking
is to hopefully forget
about you
i might as well admit it
like i even have a choice
the crew have killed the captain
but they still can hear his voice
a shadow on the water
a whisper in the wind
on long walks with my daughter
who is lately full of questions
about you
when job asked you question
you responded "who are you
to challenge your creator?"
well if that one part is true
it makes you sound defensive
like you had not thought it through
enough to have an answer
like you might have bit off
more than you could chew
some brown liquor whets my tongue
my fingers find the stitches
firmly back and forth they run
of the bits of me i left
when all this lethal drinking
is to hopefully forget
about you
like i even have a choice
the crew have killed the captain
but they still can hear his voice
a whisper in the wind
on long walks with my daughter
about you
you responded "who are you
to challenge your creator?"
well if that one part is true
like you had not thought it through
enough to have an answer
like you might have bit off
more than you could chew
Song Info
Submitted by
pwebb88 On Sep 03, 2009
More David Bazan
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Curse Your Branches
Cold Beer and Cigarettes
Forest Fires
Hard To Be
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I believe this is a "Dear John" letter to God. This album, more than any of his others, deals with Bazan's realization that he can no longer make excuses or pretend to believe in what he used to hold so dear. It's a one on one conversation with God explaining what he's gone through since he lost his faith. He talking about how he self-medicated to deal with the stress and sadness of letting go. The line "The crew have killed the captain but they still can hear his voice" refers to how deeply embedded Christianity is to who he is as a person. Basically, I don't believe in God anymore, but I'm still influenced by my former belief. Job challenged God because he felt like he had lived a righteous life and didn't deserve the bad things that happened to him. This last part is pretty spiteful. It really seems like something you would say to an ex-girl/boyfriend after a breakup. It's choosing a certain argument or ordeal that summarizes what was bad with the relationship.
That's my 2 cents, feel free to add comments/criticize/whatever.
Oh, and.... LOVE this song!!
Just to clarify, David Bazan has said that he is now agnostic, not atheist (which seems to be the general perception). I think when he says, "I might as well admit it, like I even have a choice. The crew have killed the captain, but they still can hear his voice" I think he is saying that even though he has lost faith in religion, he still believes in the back of his mind that God might exist. I think "a shadow on the water, a whisper in the wind" also point to that fact. Although he is definitely struggling...
Just to clarify, David Bazan has said that he is now agnostic, not atheist (which seems to be the general perception). I think when he says, "I might as well admit it, like I even have a choice. The crew have killed the captain, but they still can hear his voice" I think he is saying that even though he has lost faith in religion, he still believes in the back of his mind that God might exist. I think "a shadow on the water, a whisper in the wind" also point to that fact. Although he is definitely struggling with his belief in God, most of the songs on Curse Your Branches are more a critique of organized religion.
That is a good point. I'd also like to note that because Christianity is so deeply embedded into his mind, he feels the need to speak to God like He exists even when denying that very fact.
Yes, beautiful song, and ironic that, ownedcore, that he's speaking to "someone" he no longer believes in to tell him why, or at least how it's hurt him to lose his faith, and how angry he is at "god", even though he doesn't believe in him anymore. Pretty powerful stuff.
breanne - if the "maker of all" is so petty and small as to be offended by the honest feelings of a man who is only trying to do right, then screw him.
Just to clarify, David Bazan has said that he is now agnostic, not atheist (which seems to be the general perception). I think when he says, "I might as well admit it, like I even have a choice. The crew have killed the captain, but they still can hear his voice" I think he is saying that even though he has lost faith in religion, he still believes in the back of his mind that God might exist. I think "a shadow on the water, a whisper in the wind" also point to that fact. Although he is definitely struggling with his belief in God, most of the songs on Curse Your Branches are more a critique of organized religion.
There is one truth out there, that is a fact. If Christianity is right, David may have just offended the maker of ALL with this song.