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Modern Jesus Lyrics
Come on in
Take a seat next to me
You know we got
We got what you need
We may be liars preaching to choirs
But we can
We can sell your dreams
You don't need sympathy
They got a pill for everything
Just take that dark cloud
Ring it out to wash it down, but
Don't pray for us
We don't need no modern Jesus
To roll with us
The only rule we need is never
Giving up
The only faith we have is faith in us
We're the ones who start little fires
Yet they burn out
But when they're on the rise
They can't help but shine
And when the wave approaches
Take our ashes to the ocean
Who cares if hell awaits?
We're having drinks at heaven's gate
Don't pray for us
We don't need no modern Jesus
To roll with us
The only rule we need is never
Giving up
The only faith we have is faith in us
We know that we're helpless
At least we always assume
But we don't need to prove nothing to you
Let's keep the cool
You don't need to feel blue
Cause we won't sell you nothing
You can't use
Don't pray for us
We don't need no modern Jesus
To roll with us
The only rule we need is never
Giving up
The only faith we have is faith in us
Take a seat next to me
You know we got
We got what you need
We may be liars preaching to choirs
But we can
We can sell your dreams
They got a pill for everything
Just take that dark cloud
Ring it out to wash it down, but
We don't need no modern Jesus
To roll with us
The only rule we need is never
Giving up
The only faith we have is faith in us
Yet they burn out
But when they're on the rise
They can't help but shine
Take our ashes to the ocean
Who cares if hell awaits?
We're having drinks at heaven's gate
We don't need no modern Jesus
To roll with us
The only rule we need is never
Giving up
The only faith we have is faith in us
At least we always assume
But we don't need to prove nothing to you
Let's keep the cool
You don't need to feel blue
Cause we won't sell you nothing
You can't use
We don't need no modern Jesus
To roll with us
The only rule we need is never
Giving up
The only faith we have is faith in us
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This is about the church telling them what they need to do to behave and why he doesn't need them. He's saying, you don't need to pray for us, we are living a great life and that they are already englightened and changing the world for the best.
Lyrics breakdown:
[Come on in Take a seat next to me You know we got We got what you need We may be liars preaching to choirs But we can We can sell your dreams]
[You don't need sympathy They got a pill for everything Just take that dark cloud Ring it out to wash it down, but Don't pray for us We don't need no modern Jesus To roll with us The only rule we need is never Giving up The only faith we have is faith in us]
[We're the ones who start little fires Yet they burn out But when they're on the rise They can't help but shine]
[And when the wave approaches Take our ashes to the ocean Who cares if hell awaits? We're having drinks at heaven's gate]
[We know that we're helpless At least we always assume But we don't need to prove nothing to you Let's keep the cool You don't need to feel blue 'Cause we won't sell you nothing You can't use]
i personally think he might be speaking from the atheist perspective, he could be talking how they can see what the church tell them to do,and what he sees as a rationalist. when he says 'You don't need sympathy They got a pill for everything" he's saying in the 21 century you no longer need Jesus to feel better, they have modern medicine for pretty much everything" then he says "Don't pray for us We don't need no modern Jesus To roll with us" he's referring how he doesn't want for people to put his faith in the hands of what he knows is not there" he doesn't need someone(jesus) to roll with him.
in the video you see everyone doing what they want, the seem "free" which is another aspect of an atheist,we believe that humans are meant to be free to do whatever brings joy, and don't stop just because someone tell you to(religion,church).
in the video you see everyone doing what they want, the seem "free" which is another aspect of an atheist,we believe that humans are meant to be free to do whatever brings joy, and don't stop just because someone tell you to(religion,church).
This song seems to be written from the perspective of someone who is reluctantly - almost sarcastically - embracing humanism (faith in us) and modern medicine (pills). And in place of the rules of religion, he is advocating that we rely completely on ourselves (never give up).
Basically, it's telling the narrative of someone who doesn't necessarily believe that God or Jesus don't exist, but is rejecting them in favor faith in more modern things. It's a fairly common theme for younger people who grow up in a society that is transitioning from Christian values to a more ambiguous set of values.
It's an unsatisfying mental state (we know that we are helpless) (who the hell cares), which isn't surprising given that almost all of us crave meaning and direction in our lives.
I think in this song, the singer is speaking from a third person perspective. The people he is speaking for are those who understand the general basis of the Christian Religion, but would rather have fun. He is trying to show how many people have misplaced ideas of Christianity and that many people think: "To get to Heaven, you must be good!" However, this is NOT what Christianity is all about. Christianity is not the quest for an eternal life of awesomeness just because you were good for a short while.
Wrong read this interview http://www.statepress.com/2010/10/20/qa-with-portugal-the-man-front-man-john-gourley/ He's clearly no Christian.
Wrong read this interview http://www.statepress.com/2010/10/20/qa-with-portugal-the-man-front-man-john-gourley/ He's clearly no Christian.
SP: I get a very spiritual vibe from a lot of your guys’ songs. But have you actually submitted yourself to any religion?
SP: I get a very spiritual vibe from a lot of your guys’ songs. But have you actually submitted yourself to any religion?
JG: Not a religion. I believe in the mind. Everything is energy. Everything is everything. It’s always there in some form. But you know, Alaska was a very conservative Christian state. I would have friends’ parents read to us from the Book of Revelation before we went to bed — as bedtime stories. And I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but...
JG: Not a religion. I believe in the mind. Everything is energy. Everything is everything. It’s always there in some form. But you know, Alaska was a very conservative Christian state. I would have friends’ parents read to us from the Book of Revelation before we went to bed — as bedtime stories. And I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but it all sort of clicked later. (Laughs) I just realized that it’s crazy. Are you really going to scare the hell out of people with that? Is my buddy over here who doesn’t believe in your god, yet is a good person, really going to go to your hell?
If you take into account the double negatives(triple in one instance) this song is subject to multiple conflicting interpretations.
The content of the verses is somewhat unsettling in regards to the state of modern thought:
"We can sell your dreams" Commercialism. Everyone dreams of fame in some form. Have you ever fantasized about being a rock star? Note the usage of "we" throughout the song.
"You don't need sympathy They got a pill for everything" Pharmaceuticals - Don't worry about those troublesome emotions. Suppress with technology.
"We're the ones who start little fires Yet they burn out" Recreational drugs - Yes, I know there are other interpretations to this verse. They have a powerful effect when "on the rise" but leave you wanting when you come down.
"Who cares if hell awaits?" "We know that we're helpless" Apathy - Lack of concern about the future. Unwillingness to improve even in the face of consequence.
We have all these problems but we don't need religion. Do we? Perhaps this artist thinks we do. Maybe not Christianity, but something that's better adapted to our modern condition and, above all, not governed by materialism.
Double Negatives:
We don't need no modern Jesus = We need modern Jesus
'Cause we won't sell you nothing You can't use = We will sell you something you can't use
"We don't need no modern Jesus = We need modern Jesus"
"We don't need no modern Jesus = We need modern Jesus"
Technically correct but colloquially flawed. "don't need no" in common usage resolves into "don't need". There's was a popular meme earlier this year of a woman saying "Ain't nobody got time for that!" which is similar. "ain't nobody", if you can get past the use of "ain't", should result in a double negative that means "everyone", but colloquially it doesn't . . . it is intended to mean "Nobody has time for that."
Technically correct but colloquially flawed. "don't need no" in common usage resolves into "don't need". There's was a popular meme earlier this year of a woman saying "Ain't nobody got time for that!" which is similar. "ain't nobody", if you can get past the use of "ain't", should result in a double negative that means "everyone", but colloquially it doesn't . . . it is intended to mean "Nobody has time for that."
Double and triple negatives...
Double and triple negatives in common language use can't really be filtered through strict grammar rules, that's rarely the intent.
I do not disagree that, when used colloquially, a double negative serves to reinforce the negative instead of nullifying it. That said, the ambiguity of language allows for the embedding of multiple meanings into a single statement allowing for either interpretation to be correct. I agree, it is unlikely that the lyrics are meant to be interpreted outside the colloquial sense but the possibility remains. If you are willing to acknowledge PTM's status as a cultural vector for a particular influential non-public organization, this possibility seems much more likely.
I do not disagree that, when used colloquially, a double negative serves to reinforce the negative instead of nullifying it. That said, the ambiguity of language allows for the embedding of multiple meanings into a single statement allowing for either interpretation to be correct. I agree, it is unlikely that the lyrics are meant to be interpreted outside the colloquial sense but the possibility remains. If you are willing to acknowledge PTM's status as a cultural vector for a particular influential non-public organization, this possibility seems much more likely.
It's called a litote. It's used for understated emphasis. Ironically, you can find numerous examples in the Bible.
It's called a litote. It's used for understated emphasis. Ironically, you can find numerous examples in the Bible.
And when the wave approaches Take our ashes to the ocean Who cares if hell awaits? We're having drinks at heaven's gate
This is definitely a cult reference to the Heaven's Gate cult that committed mass suicide by drinking pineapple juice mixed with an anti-convulsant and washed down by vodka, making their asphyxiation less violent.
No he's just saying he'd rather be outside the gates of heaven having drinks with his friends then be inside with all the wet blankets
No he's just saying he'd rather be outside the gates of heaven having drinks with his friends then be inside with all the wet blankets
Cool song, slight variation from Johns self loathing, but just slightly! Anti religious theme continues, well not anti religious totally because he mentions the devil in all 4 tracks so far, usually equating himself to the devil...Im just delving into John, what a great songwriter....it really sucks that danger mouse contractually is given cowriter on every song...I know he adds a feel but these are Johns songs..
lame religiophobic crap, a masterpiece in contradictions and irony about a no risk subject …why didn t the fag just say "lets slit your wrist" ...dadeda ..ladadela