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Harborview Hospital Lyrics
I walked by harborview hospital
I heard the agnus dei
Oh sister of mercy
I’ve been gone too long to say
And all around this place I was a sad disgrace
They’re singing, they’re singing
Away up on the hill
They’re building, they’re building
A mystical union, beautiful and still
But down here in the dirt they’ll say it doesn’t hurt
The devil’s ascended
Upon some crystal wings
In the citadel lightning
Splits a cloud of butterflies and fiends
And with a vacant stare I’ll leave a flower there
They’re riding, they’re riding
A hellhound down the hill
They’re sinking, they’re sinking
Into the ocean, beautiful and still
And yet it’s hard to leave in wealth or poverty
I walked by harborview hospital
And stopped at ninth and James
Oh sister of mercy
I’ve been down too far to say
Are they supposed to be as sick as you and me?
I heard the agnus dei
Oh sister of mercy
I’ve been gone too long to say
And all around this place I was a sad disgrace
Away up on the hill
They’re building, they’re building
A mystical union, beautiful and still
But down here in the dirt they’ll say it doesn’t hurt
Upon some crystal wings
In the citadel lightning
Splits a cloud of butterflies and fiends
And with a vacant stare I’ll leave a flower there
A hellhound down the hill
They’re sinking, they’re sinking
Into the ocean, beautiful and still
And yet it’s hard to leave in wealth or poverty
And stopped at ninth and James
Oh sister of mercy
I’ve been down too far to say
Are they supposed to be as sick as you and me?
Song Info
Submitted by
chubbybaby On Feb 01, 2012
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This one escapes me. Feels like the tone is wistful and sad. I feel like there is something connecting the hospital to the cathedral on 9th and James (there is one for real, St. James Cathedral, so i am assuming this is what he is referring to).
I was in a Catholic hospital once and they said their prayers/rituals over the loudspeaker each day, so hearing the Agnus Dei as he walks by could be somewhat believable. I keep thinking the "reality" portion of this song is a look back on past drug addiction (and related hospitalizations), and how although that part of his life is gone and over he still longs for it. Maybe the celestial highs and hellish lows are still happening. He can see it all clearer now, but from a sober distance, and although he lost the drug addiction he gained nothing. He still feels sick although everyone else has declared him "better."
@Mendalusa77 Harborview hospital is @ 9th and James. St James cathedral is a few blocks up on 9th between Columbia and Marion. The song may be an oblique reference to drug rehab facility connected to the eponymous hospital...
@Mendalusa77 Harborview hospital is @ 9th and James. St James cathedral is a few blocks up on 9th between Columbia and Marion. The song may be an oblique reference to drug rehab facility connected to the eponymous hospital...