In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
She moves with shameless wonder
The perfect creature rarely seen
Since some lie I brought the thunder
When the land was godless and free
Her eyes look sharp and steady
Into the empty parts of me
Still my heart is heavy
With the hate of some other man's beliefs
Always a well dressed for
Who wouldn't spare the wrong
Never for me
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Wondering who I'll copy
Muster in some tender charm
She feels no control of her body
She feels no safety in my arms
I've no language left to say it
All I do is crave to her
Breaking if I try to convey it
The broken love I make to her
All that I've been taught
And every word I've got
Is foreign to me
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
The perfect creature rarely seen
Since some lie I brought the thunder
When the land was godless and free
Her eyes look sharp and steady
Into the empty parts of me
Still my heart is heavy
With the hate of some other man's beliefs
Always a well dressed for
Who wouldn't spare the wrong
Never for me
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Wondering who I'll copy
Muster in some tender charm
She feels no control of her body
She feels no safety in my arms
I've no language left to say it
All I do is crave to her
Breaking if I try to convey it
The broken love I make to her
All that I've been taught
And every word I've got
Is foreign to me
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Lyrics submitted by vulgardarling, edited by teaspill, VivGray22
Foreigner's God Lyrics as written by Andrew Hozier Byrne
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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All character traits a human being can possess can be phrased, and manifested, in positive and negative ways. Pride/arrogance, insight/lies, ardor/possessiveness, etc etc.
A theoretical "perfect creature," or perfect human in the gnostic sense, would both know and manifest all of their character traits in the positive sense at all times, hence becoming innocent and negating the stain of original sin.
The woman here knows who she is, and acts it. The speaker does not, hence the dissonance and tragedy of the song.