And to love a god
And to fear a flame
And to burn a crowd that has a name
And to right or wrong
And to meek or strong
It is known just scream it from the wall

I've willed, I've walked, I've read
I've talked, I know, I know,
I've been here before, yeah

Now we won't be raped, hey
Now we won't be scarred like that, hey
Now we won't be raped , hey
Now we won't be scarred like that, hey

It's the sun that burns
It's the wheel that turns
It's the way we sing that makes 'em dream
And to Christ, a cross
And to me a chair
I will sit and earn the ransom from up here

I've willed, I've walked, I've read
I've talked, I know, I know,
I've been here before, yeah

Now we won't be raped, hey
Now we won't be scarred like that, hey
Now we won't be raped , hey
Now we won't be scarred like that
Scarred like that

And to love, a god
And to fear, a flame
And to burn, a love that has a name

I've willed, I've walked, I've read
I've talked, I know, I know
I've been here before, yeah

Now we won't be raped, hey
Now we won't be scarred like that, hey
Now we won't be raped , hey
Now we won't be scarred like that
Hey hey na nana

(Hoo hoo) we won't be scarred like that
(Hoo hoo) we won't be scarred like that
(Hoo hoo)


Lyrics submitted by Caverna[RR]

Selling the Drama Lyrics as written by Chad David Taylor Chad Alan Gracey

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Selling The Drama song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

55 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    I know this explanation sounds really religious but....The drama...The spiritual battle for our soul maybe (I know Ed is a Christian). God = Love, Fear of burning in Hell for sin, The crowd that has a name = "cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur" (from Revelation 21:8). "It is known just scream it from the wall" to everybody... Weak, strong, right, wrong. The author has struggled with his faith, he's willed, he's walked, he's read (probably the Bible and apologetics), he's talked (probs to friends, religious elders etc) he's fluctuated in his belief. He's been here before (in doubt about his faith). He seems sceptical when he says that all of the horrid tortures that await sinners (note that the word rape doesn't just refer to forced sex, in this context it means "an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse; despoliation; violation - Dictionary.com) won't happen and won't scar us if we believe. It won't be hell fire that burns us, just the Sun will burn. Life moves on like a wheel turning. The author says that "the way we sing" is part of selling the drama because it makes "them" (the would-be believers) "dream" (this is an ambivalent term that suggests he's not convinced that Christ is the Real Deal). To Christ : the cross, To me : the chair, I will sit and "earn the ransom" is a common Christian reference to Jesus being ransomed for our sins. We don't have to suffer crucifixion ... We can take a seat, it's all been paid for. All we have to do is believe but that isn't easy. The author is trying to sell himself the drama... Trying to believe.

    You.whoon July 17, 2016   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Fortnight
Taylor Swift
The song 'Fortnight' by Taylor Swift and Post Malone tells a story about strong feelings, complicated relationships, and secret wishes. It talks about love, betrayal, and wanting someone who doesn't feel the same. The word 'fortnight' shows short-lived happiness and guilty pleasures, leading to sadness. It shows how messy relationships can be and the results of hiding emotions. “I was supposed to be sent away / But they forgot to come and get me,” she kickstarts the song in the first verse with lines suggesting an admission to a hospital for people with mental illnesses. She goes in the verse admitting her lover is the reason why she is like this. In the chorus, she sings about their time in love and reflects on how he has now settled with someone else. “I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary / And I love you, it’s ruining my life,” on the second verse she details her struggles to forget about him and the negative effects of her failure. “Thought of callin’ ya, but you won’t pick up / ‘Nother fortnight lost in America,” Post Malone sings in the outro.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.