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This song is criticizing arrogant christians that force God on people. i'm not saying that's how all christians are, i for one am a very strong christian, still, that's what the song is talking about.

"And oh look you earned your wings Are you an angel now, or a vulture constantly hovering above Waiting for a big mistake"

That part is talking about power hungry christians that, because they believe they have all the power in the world, criticize other christians.

"I feel the darkness growing stronger As you cram lies down my throat How does that work out for you? In your holy quest to be above the reproach"

This part is talking about how these arrogant Christians increase the darkness because of their forcefulness of the word of God. God's word isn't meant to be forced on people, it's meant for people to learn from and accept on their own. This doesn't mean you shouldn't share God's word, it does tell us to go out and be disciples, but we should force it on people.

I think the lyric is actually "This line is metaphysical" not this life. And "constantly heaven reign of vogue"? what does that mean? I'm pretty sure it's "constantly hovering above."
That said.. what a great song. that whole imagery of an imaginary line with the "good" vs. the "evil" is the whole theme of Control and is summed up nicely in this song.

yes...a great song and you are right...it is "line" but the other is "constantly hovering over"

This song seems to be a paranthesis in the story. It is a reflection of why things have gone wrong, not only with this couple but more with society as a whole. According to the theology of David Bazan, half the world lives in wickedness and the other half in arrogance. He could not be more true in defining the way the two halves view each other. And of course the truth is not hidden in this line, “there is a steady flow moving to and fro”. The half that live in wickedness seem to be the ones saying this line to the other half, “Are you’re an angel now, or a vulture Constantly hovering over waiting for a big mistake.” The arrogant (who think they are righteous) are just waiting for the wicked to make a mistake so that they can call them on it. I think this is why Bazan paused from the story. He wants to make sure that all the good listeners (the arrogant) are not just judging the wicked, because if they are they are closer to vultures than angels. Bazan also delineates the righteous as being on a “holy quest to be above reproach”. But in reality they are more closer to wanting to be on the cover of a magazine. With this song, Bazan draws in the half of the audience that think they do not relate to the wicked and show them they are also wicked. They are striving for “healthy skin” and “perfect teeth”, not “being above reproach”. Now everyone should be ready for the second half of the story and able to sympathize (or actually empathize) with the characters.

THIS IS THE BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM!!! That said, I have to agree with most of through.being.cool's lengthy explanation with a few twists and amendments. First, this song is about the division between people of righteous and everyone else. The righteous are viewed as pompous, arrogant, selfish, and condescending while the wicked are seen as amoral heathens. But the truth of the matter is that nobody is 100% one or the other... that's why the line is metaphysical.
Secondly, I argue that the one who got their wings is the wife... thinking that she's so perfect (angel), when she's really just waiting for him to make his big mistake so she can catch him in it and further prove her superiority. Quite frankly, I don't get the "darkness" line. I get the gist of it and the tone but I don't understand what he's referring to. That's all.

P.S. I'm in Salt Lake and PTL played here the second night of their Control tour here. I had a chance to meet David for a sec and I've gotta say that he's amazingly cool, respectful, and down-to-earth. I just wonder sometimes why he writes such dark stuff.

I agree with Bjorkman when he says that it's the best song on the album. But rather than saying that David see's the world this way, perhaps it's just the opposite. On his past three albums (Whole, Winners Never Quit) David has made a musical play of sorts from OTHER PEOPLE's PERSPECTIVES. He uses logic to show how some people can hurt so much, and to encourage people on the "good side" to help the people on the "bad side". I believe he is expressing some people point of view of Chrisitanity. As a person who was a strong athiest until I had a personal experience with Jesus, I can attest that some people actually see all christian's as hypocritical people who attempt the jam thier "light" down peoples throats. So many Christians are too afraid to develop relationships and love people as Christ has called us to do.

As far as the "darkness" line, I can say that when I found Jesus, in my spirit, it felt like my whole mindset had been dark and gloomy, but what He showed me was the light of His grace, the key word being grace (not force).

I don't think David actually thinks this way, but instead is showing what some people do actually believe. It challenges us as Christains to help save these people that God loves just as much as anyone.

I should've clarified my possition better in my last post... I agree with tealfixedsys... I don't think this is actually how David actually views the world... it's just how the character does.

I think the darkness line comes out of the perspective that he is talking from. He is talking to the arrogant side, from the wicked. Thus he's talking about when the arrogant think that the way they have it is right (thus righteous) and they try to convince the wicked of this. (as you cram light down my throat.) it been said but the sense that he uses the word metaphysical it mean vague to the point of being hard to understand where one side starts and the other ends. and thus in some ways there are no sides, just one group of people, and all of them are wicked. but yea... this song is amazing.. definatly the best on the album.. definatly something to live by.

my favorite line of any pedro song is "i feel the darkness growing stronger as you cram light down my throat." the more you try to be good for good's sake instead of being aware that you SUCK and trying to do better the more you just want to be bad.

I haven't been listening to Pedro that long but already i've realized they're one of the great bands of our time... i love every song... i love the part in this song where he says, "Oh My God! what have i done?" x3 it sounds amazing and sets off his amazing lyrics perfectly