In The Sun

i think the narrator of the song(i.e the singers character) is supposed to have committed suicide..i know its a bit weird,but hear me out.

"I picture you in the sun wondering what went wrong And falling down on your knees asking for sympathy And being caught in between all you wish for and all you seen And trying to find anything you can feel that you can believe in" -living person is despairing,feels let down and abandoned by god(after the loss of the narrator).Wants to know what went wrong-what drove their loved one to suicide.therefore the person is struggling with beliefs,not sure of their faith in god anymore.

May God's love be with you Always May God's love be with you -obviously the singer/deceased praying for the other person,asking god to help look after the other.urging loved one to keep faith.

"I know i would apologize if i could see your eyes 'Cause when you showed me myself i became someone else But i was caught in between all you wish for and all you need I picture you fast asleep A nightmare comes You can't keep awake" -the singer(i know this the singer isnt dead at this point,its just easier this way) is watching from heaven(hence cant see the other persons eyes) and is sorry for what theyve put their lover/friend etc through.maybe he hurt her in life"when you showed my myself,i became someone else"-possibly due to guilt?something he did to her made him see himself as a different less worthy person.the final part-"i picture you fast asleep...cant keep awake" would indicate that he still loves and cares for her,watches over her.

"'Cause if i find If i find my own way How much will i find If i find If i find my own way How much will i find You" -if he finds his way(to heaven,to god) and she keeps her faith and does the same some day,then they will find each other and stay together in god.

"I don't know anymore What it's for I'm not even sure If there is anyone who is in the sun Will you help me to understand 'Cause i been caught in between all I wish for and all I need Maybe you're not even sure what it's for Any more than me" he doesnt have the answers...you know typical questions about what lifes for etc, the meaning of life and death,what happens after death....and he doesnt know for sure exactly what his death means.is anyone"in the sun"...WILL they be able to find each other...?hes lost without her and doesnt understand,but one day they can maybe figure it out together

I cannot believe that I have just discovered Joseph Arthur. It was by a complete accident, but probably one of the greatest ever. I cried when I heard this song. Maybe it's that I cry too often, but it made me think of my two best friends who both commit suicide. I know it's not about that, but I don't care. It tells of guilt and there are a few lines that just pull my heart strings. My favorite lines: "I know I would apologize if I could see your eyes, 'cause when you showed me myself, I became someone else. But I was caught in between all you wish for and all you need. I picture you fast asleep; a nightmare comes, you can't keep awake."

To the comment above re: Chris Martin saying, "This is the greatest song ever written," he is definitely referring to this, and not "Night Swimming." This song become a universal relief project, founded by Michael Stipe and Chris Martin, with the authorization from Joseph Arthur. The 3 of them, as well as Justin Timberlake and Timbaland (I believe) created a CD with 7 or 8 interpretations of this song, and all sales went to some sort of relief effort. In Chris and Michael's live version, Chris makes that comment, which certainly would not have been included if he were actually referring to Nightswimming, which has no relative meaning for this album.

In terms of meaning, I think it's pretty simple, although the lyrics are vague enough to allow for personalized interpretation, which is always great. I'd say it's post-breakup, and the guy broke up with the girl, but harbors no ill-will toward her. And he is partly consoling her because he still cares about her, and wants her to know that she was responsible for a number of great things that happened in his life and changed him for the better, and partly explaining that he is in a complicated place in his life where he is looking for answers for himself and doesn't want to drag her down with him because he can't commit at this time. In summation, I think it's like an appology, mixed with a thank-you for everything and a pep-talk to stay strong and not to worry, because she'll be okay.

I found this song on the deleted ending of the Bourne Identity and I feel in love. I think it's about a guy letting go of a girl and trying to get her, because he can't quite figure out how to make her happy or whatever, but they still have this love, even though they probably shouldn't be together. Beautiful song.

aftonbelle: that's how i found out about the song too.

I first heard this song on Scrubs where Doctor Cox's son, Jack, is baptised and its' amazing. I hate religion, I find it stupid, and yet I love this song even the line 'May god's love be with you." It sort of adds hope and maybe even the sense there might be something bigger.

I recently had a good friend of mine pass away, when I was driving back to Dallas from the funeral the micheal stipe/chris martin version of this song came on my XM satelite radio, I was instantly brought to tears by the lyrics. It reminds me so much of my friend I lost in a car accident. Rest in peace Tara Siobhan Lewis. I'll never forget you...

"'Cause if i find If i find my own way How much will i find If i find If i find my own way How much will i find You"

I miss you sweet angel.

I don't think he is talking to someone he loves. I'm surprised so many people think that. I imagine him talking to someone who is religious, who put all their faith in the fact that their God will lead them through life, though they find their God lets them down. It seems like he is singing it from a more agnostic view to a very religious person. As if he is saying, "hey, maybe you shouldn't believe in something you're not sure is going to do you good" but at the same time comforting them in a sort of ironic way when he says "May God's love be with you" As in, whatever God or greater power, or simply the universe or luck be on your side. Especially when he says "If there's anyone in the sun (being in the sun meaning someone who knows the truth about the meaning of life and faith), can you help me to understand?" And then "maybe you're not even sure what it's for any more than me" As in, just because you believe in a religion doesn't mean you know more about the meaning of life or truth of the world than I do.

Heard this in Scrubs, where (as usual with Scrubs) it summed up the emotions of the characters and the events of the episode perfectly.

The lyrics are absolutely beautiful with Arthur's voice. Even though I usually get all twitchy when I hear songs which mention religion and God-stuff, I find the line "May God's love be with you. Always." stunning in this song - when sung in this way, the words for me simply contain som sort of universality that makes the religious-ness irrelevant. I don't know how else to put it. :-)

I think the song is about a person who is jaded and non-religious, talking about another person who finds solace in religion and god.

Sort of like: Their life under religion gives them comfort, and he's saying "may god's love be with you, always" as in, "I hope this belief keeps you happy forever", despite the fact the person the singer is portraying might not believe in it, it isn't hard to believe that those with religion in their lives might feel more comforted in their day to day lives than a non-religious person.

1. In the first verse, it's clear that the person who will be religious is having some major negative event happening in their life, looking for something they can believe in, and the singer is imagining their struggle to make sense of it.

2. Second verse, maybe a conflict between the singer and the religious person, then the singer imagines that person has a nightmare, and can't "keep awake", meaning they were so comfortable with their belief that there is a god, nightmares can't have a large negative impact on their life (or something)

3. Last verse singer is contemplating his beliefs and his place in the universe, just sort of drifts in thought.

I think this song is a non-religious person telling a religious person: Live and let live.

There is no reason to think somebody is stupid or insane if they believe in god or the afterlife, even if you don't believe in it. If it comforts you, if it makes your life better, so be it.