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,
Rejoice my soul how long will you wait
Rejoice my soul how long will you fear
I long to touch your face
May I
The sun is falling down again
Jesus I hope you're coming back soon
Rejoice my soul how long will you fear
I long to touch your face
May I
The sun is falling down again
Jesus I hope you're coming back soon
Lyrics submitted by NoiseCore, edited by bobyhopkns
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
it's totally "Jesus, I..." in the non-religious figure-of-speech way
it's an exclamation. and jesus isn't coming back.
Okay,every single fucking person, regardless of religious affiliation, has their right to believe what any song means. So fuck anyone here who is telling me what this song is about. Its okay if you want to say "I think this song is about Jesus" but when you say "this song is about Jesus, how can it not be?" that's when I get pissed off. Open your god damn (that's right I used the lords name in vane) single minded eyes! Song meanings are not factual, its all oppinionated. That's fine if you are religious and find this song religious, but know that there are other people in this world who do not believe in god (me).
Anyway, I love Mineral. I don't belibe in god, and I find no religious meanings in all of their songs regardless of what some people want me to believe. Yes I can see how some may see their songs as religious, there are obvious hints and shit, but personaly, I find deeper meanings than god in their songs (JUST MY OPPINION).
When I first read these lyrics I definately didn't think it had anything to do with Jesus... Its all how you precieve it...
And lagwagon182, you're right. Jesus isn't comming back... =)
Why would someone want to take out the divine aspects of mineral's songs?
Not everyone believes in Jesus Christ.
here's an interesting piece of trivia. Via Dolorosa is latin for "Way of Suffering" or "Way of Grief". It's a street in Jerusalem believed to be the same street that Christ walked down on his way to be crucified
Oh...My stars, guys. For the last time. SIMPSON STATED IN MANY INTERVIEWS THAT HE DID NOT HAVE CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY IN MIND WHEN WRITING HIS SONGS.
It doesn't matter what he had in mind. The language, the tone is obviously Christian in nature. The Via Dolorosa is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem that marks the path Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. It's obvious that this song is about Jesus.<br /> <br /> "Well, religion plays a huge role in my life, so of course it plays a huge role in my music. But whatever, you know? I don’t want to be perceived as a religious writer or something. It’s just part of my experience." - Chris Simpson<br /> <br /> He's not saying he doesn't believe in Jesus Christ, he's just saying he doesn't want to be a poster boy for Christianity. There's no way this song can NOT be about Jesus
Correction: "The Via Dolorosa is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem that makes the path Jesus SUPPOSEDLY walked on the way to his SUPPOSED crucifixion."<br /> <br /> P.S. Fuck you.
ugh, christians are so fucking annoying...i feel bad for not being more tolerant of their varying beliefs, but they make it so difficult by whining all the time and shoving unwanted shit into your ears.<br /> <br /> p.s. the above reply made me laugh a bit.
Really, there's NO way that this song can NOT be about Jesus? That's the most ridiculous statement I've ever read.
It's obviously about missing a person very much, whether that person is gone or still around you. I feel like he wants to search contact with that person but he's too afraid, because he thinks another disappointment will follow. I think deep inside he longs for happines but he knows he shouldn't. He just hopes that the person will come back to him because he knows he could never do it by himself. "Jesus I hope you're coming back soon" I think this is the best line. The "jesus" just expresses the suffering and makes it sound more pleading. Every moment alone becomes more unbearable. That's why it's called dolorosa. It's a long and painfull way without the person you love.
don't we all wish He's coming back soon?
my goodness... i love these guys forever, they give excellent insight into what it means to be a christian. i enjoy this.
And the sun is falling down again.. THAT'S THE BEST PART!