Witness

I believe that he's talking about heroin, possibly with God as being a 'witness'. He was a hopeless heroin addict when this was written. He's definitely Catholic or Christian, but Mark Lanegan is no choir boy. With that in mind, read the lyrics again. 'It's taken everything I got and it's hung me on the line"....at one point he sold everything he owned and was basically living on the street because his addiction was about as bad as Layne Staley's. I believe that he may or may not have sold his only guitar. I'm actually surprised he made it back. Almost no one ever does. I believe he was arrested in the late 90's for a profoundly insane variety of drugs in his possession - crack and heroin, if I'm not mistaken. That event alone probably saved his life. If he had continued unchecked, he would most likely be dead already. Yes, Mark Lanegan has certainly prayed for salvation. A crack and heroin addiction will bring you to your knees. With all that said, yes, the song has a killer urgency to it. Like you're in a runaway train or something and can only hang on. The Screaming Trees were so diverse, creative, spiritual, mournful and psychedelic...one of the greatest bands of all time.

"Whose God Is Mine? The One With The Witness"

Possibly because this is my own feeling as well, but this seems to mean, to me at least, that he cannot believe in any God or other deity because there is no proof of them (hence the Witness).

Mark is an undeniably Christian musician,

by refering to the "Lonely light" he s refering to the Christian belief of there being one true God, the only God, so by being the only one of his kind, he is lonely,

Wishing to be illuminated with the light of the one true god,

I think their is a religious aspect but i think it's about either questioning it, or it's about losing faith because a lot of bad things are happening, thats why he reffers to death and pain,

i think the lonely light refers to the cartoon light thing that represents god, saying that if someone would just give a sign it would make it easier to believe

Ok, but who is it that he can take down with him? I believe he was talking to someone, or to people in general. The God is not the witness, he kept asking for a God with a witness. Is there anyone who saw any God? He is probably scared of death that came so close with the drugs and now he is asking for God, who exists. It may be either the person, or the God, he could take down with him, where he is so lonely.

Can't believe no-ones commented on this? This rocks mightily and demands to be played loud while jumping around. It's the easy-flex elasticated beat that gets me I think. I think it's about questioning religion and god etc and feeling and how everyone dies alone.

it sounds like he feels like he has to choose a god before he dies or he'll have eternal darkness/be in hell. I'm not religous but I know mark is, so that's why I'd say it doesn't have a much deeper meaning. All though, I don't have it completely right, because I haven't figured out what the lonely stanza is about. wait, now I have a theory.. he was so lonely he wanted to commit suicide (also goes along with water over his head) but he wanted to find a god first to make sure he went somewhere after death... just a thought

He clearly asks whose God is his God and then he asks if any God has a witness, a witness who has seen this God which would prove that this God exists. He is need of believing God, because he understands everyone dies alone which is making him feel lonely, but he can't find any proof for the existence of a God which is destroying him.

He wants God to prove its existence, as in the end he says "shine". Asking God to shine its "light" is about asking God to prove its own existence, thus saving him from his "darkness". The lonely light refers God being one and so God being lonely. If God would shine its lonely light on him, he would find proof and relief to believe in God. He is ready for it. It might also mean he is ready to be taken away by God.

He feels he has no one, but he might only have God if exists. They are both lonely. Holding the mirror and taking down with him mean the same as they both suggest to show God how both of them are lonely.

I but couldn't figure out what does he mean with "i told a lie, that's what i said, i told the one you know i'll always keep".

The rest are just clearly to express how grim his situation is for the main theme of being lonely, dying and not knowing what happens afterlife.

Very good song.

Uh, Mark is NOT a religious person - he has said so himself in a few interviews.

i think he's referring to the need to believe in God because his life is witness to the need for hope in him...i say that because his other songs point to a christian world view as well

but if it's the opposite, i wouldnt be surprised.