After the Scripture

When I read these lyricsI see a person attending an estranged funeral, or visiting someone terminally ill or critically injured. The person is someone who doesn't deserve death; maybe before their time, by unjust, or inconceivable means. The lyricist offers sympathy, not empathy. The lyricist doesn't know the deceased, but is paying respect to someone who does, and was hurt deeply by the loss.

line should read "candle that burned me, delivered me light."

Seems to be Andy wrestling with the disconnect between Christians and Christ, people claiming to follow but not actually following in action. True vs false disciples "we built a shelter While we turned the weak away" Injustice, leaving people who are hurting and weak outside of the body of Christ despite the Christian's call to love his neighbor

Chorus seems to be directly wrestling with God "I hardly knew you You knew me the same" Seems to be a reference to Matthew 7:23, where Jesus distinguishes between true believers and false believers.

7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

This song is a followup to "I Can Feel Your Pain". A girl ,named Anna, at a Manchester Orchestra show was suffering from bone cancer and died a week after. Andy wrote "After the Scripture" for her and performed it for Anna's folks in her grandparent's backyard. He talks about it at a solo performance in Baltimore.