Pray Your Gods

I always found it to be an anti-christianity song. Asking for your blood being all the wars that are fought in God's name. Lest we forget Jesus wasn't exactly preaching a sunny future for the world.

This song always makes me think of the fantasy/medieval novels that I read, specifically one in which an Irish warrior and his Scottish lover are waiting for Romans to come. I picture them laying together, savoring their last moments together before he has to march to war. I think of the gods it refers to as the Celtic gods, and the Roman gods; gods of War, and you know, all the rest. "I fear my time is short, there are armies moving close, be quick my love."

I'm sure I'm way off, but that's what this song always makes me think of!

i read this biblical scholars explanation about this song. something about jesus right about the time before he died. it made sense. this song is one of the most romantic songs ever. the end chorus is so beautiful. well done toad. I'll miss you guys! namaste webb

The OT "eye for an eye" type gods WAS Jesus (at least according to Jesus). I don't know if TtWS is supposed to be a Christian band, but I see the lyrics as a juxtaposition between the God who lays Himself on the altar for His people, and the pagan gods who demand a sacrifice or payment in order to earn their love.

However, I could also see TtWS lumping the Christian God in with all the others and saying that only he, the singer, gives his love freely.

Dona Nobis Pacem is sung by Ellen Turner. I can't find any other opera music by her.

Time out on the biblical references. Although a lot of Glen's songs are spiritual of sort, this may not be. "I will give you the secrets that you request and you will be the one to sacrifice" is directed potentially towards his girlfriend/wife that is struggling with the decision of abortion. "Lay your olive arms <peace> across my breast... pray (to) your gods that ask for your blood." Her gods being the influences in her life swaying her decision of abortion rather than life. A pro-choice vs. pro-life song but through he author's point-of-view, a choice that is not made by him, only her. Does anyone agree or disagree?

I've found this song to be anti-religion....or at least one that asks the listener to not let religion sway their views of people. Its a song about a man asking his woman to stay with him even though her religion....imo, Christianity......prevents her from being with a non-believer. The armies moving in could be seen as a reference to the church moving in and pushing her to break ties with him.

Just my two cents.

Here's my thoughts. Might be right, might be wrong. Who knows really?

The first verse is about Jesus trying to give us his message. He gave us all of the secrets about God and Heaven and how to get there. He also told us what we have to give up to do so. "Olive arms" possibly refers to the fact that at the time, around the area, most peoples skin would be olive toned like others around the mediteranian sea.

In both choruses he speaks about the gods that everyone at the time worshipped. The Roman and Greek pantheon is well known for the gods being cruel and demanding insane things from their worshippers. They were even jealous between eachother, constantly fighting and trying to sway people. He then says all he asks for is your love, nothing else. Knowing how the Romans will react to this, he knows he has little time before he is murdered for his message.

The 2nd chorus could be aimed at two different things. It could speak to the last days of Jesus' life. Able to feel the weight of the world on his shoulders and questioning why people deny him. However, I think it's something different. I think it's talking about him looking down at us today. Remember, Jesus said the church was his body. He feels his body weekend by the years. We all know the Church is weekening. Not just Catholic or Protestant, all of them, we shouldn't even split them like that, they are all His church. It also makes more sense when he says "people turn to gods of cruel design". This would mean they're turning away from Christ. If this was written from his last days of life, few had turned to him yet and those that did refused to truely deny him in their hearts (even if they did deny him outwardly). Today though, many are turning away from him and denying him. He then asks the rhetorical question of why. Is it that they fear death or life? If they feared death then they wouldn't turn away from him, they would turn to him. Jesus told us all to live life. Such a simple statement that carries so much meaning. Most don't live life, they survive life. There is a huge difference. He knows how we all feel and knows that we fear living life the way he told us we should. To soothe ourselves we turn away from him and deny him and "worship" other things like money, luxury, comfort, etc.

I hope you all don't think I'm preaching because I'm not really. This is just how I feel about the song and what it means. It might not be what Toad intended, but isn't the whole point of music what it means to -you-? Thanks for reading and sticking with me through this if you're this far down. I hope you have a good day.

Tha'ts an interesting interpretation WEBB...I never thought of it that way. This is a hard one for me when I really try to anylize every single raw lyric...but my first impression was a mournful star-crossed lovesong . I see the Gods as the distractions and the demons that come with living a life in the corrupt and wounded modern day world, and I see the armies as the "ranks of the freaks who suspect that they can never love anyone".

But the interesting thing is the ultimatum he gives her...which makes me lean toward your explanation. "OR lay upon my altar now your love".

On one hand, I could see the protagonist as Jesus, telling people they can hold on to their cruel gods (or old testament eye for an eye type thinking) or they can embrace the new way, by relating to god through love and not fear. On the other hand, it almost feels like a plea for the listener to give up their religion, to follow what is in their heart and just love, as opposed to worrying about what's right or wrong or what the gods think