I'm running out of fingers to count the things I've done wrong.
I'm dangling from the towers I've built to save my life.
Could it be I've been the one to kiss you to a tree?

Do you remember, when I was younger, what you used to say?
'If you raise them up, raise them up in me, they will not turn away.'
Could it be I've been the one who almost went astray?

I'm not the grateful bastard son, I'm the rich and spoiled one.


Lyrics submitted by mimicry

The Bastard Son And The Spoiled One song meanings
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    "I'm dangling from the towers I built to save my life" that has to be one of the most fantastic lines of all time. The part about "kissing you to the tree" is as you have mentioned a judas refererance. What he's saying(less poetically) Is could it be I've played the role of Judas, betraying jesus to die on a tree by a kiss. That symbol of betrayal through a kiss is just bitterly ironical. To think we would betray the God of the world, our creator and saviour through a physical symbol of love is so sickening. It's a brilliant play.

    The grateful bastard son is the child who doesn't belong to the father but is accepted anyways. So in that idea we as christians are bastard sons of God, because he took us from the world of sin(which we were born into) and brought us to himself. We all should be grateful bastard sons, not supposed to be there but grateful for the love and acceptance we get.

    The song says he's not the grateful bastard son, but the rich and spoiled one... that means he's the son that has been there all along... (Through, perhaps, church or christian upbringing) and yet despite always being a 'child of God'(i know... that's not technically possible... but yeah) he doesn't do anything about it.

    It's about getting comfortable with your faith, and realizing your faith is weak. Great song.

    Syrosson June 10, 2004   Link

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