The first time I heard this song, I fell in love with it. I see it as a dialogue between two people: a male atheist and the religious love-of-his-life. In my view, every pronoun is referring to the current speaker's significant other (hint: the lines "Just because I believe don't mean I don't think as well // Don't have to question everything in heaven or hell" and each stanza beginning "Lord, I kneel and offer you..." are voiced by the woman).
In his lover's goodly nature the man is able to forget all that can go awry in superstition. Having a particularly humanistic outlook on life, he can acknowledge the benefit religion can offer to those able to handle it responsibly, and feels empowered by the mutual temperance in their relationship ("Sweet name, you're born once again for me // And I'm ready to shape the scheme of things", etc.).
...or! the whole song could be a prayer--as WolfTickets and BowieOwnsAll posit--but I still prefer the romantic interpretation due to its uniquely personal relevance. Does anyone else feel this way? That David changes the affectation of his voice at key points seems to lend credence to my theory (granted, I know the wanker isn't known for vocal uniformity).
The first time I heard this song, I fell in love with it. I see it as a dialogue between two people: a male atheist and the religious love-of-his-life. In my view, every pronoun is referring to the current speaker's significant other (hint: the lines "Just because I believe don't mean I don't think as well // Don't have to question everything in heaven or hell" and each stanza beginning "Lord, I kneel and offer you..." are voiced by the woman).
In his lover's goodly nature the man is able to forget all that can go awry in superstition. Having a particularly humanistic outlook on life, he can acknowledge the benefit religion can offer to those able to handle it responsibly, and feels empowered by the mutual temperance in their relationship ("Sweet name, you're born once again for me // And I'm ready to shape the scheme of things", etc.).
...or! the whole song could be a prayer--as WolfTickets and BowieOwnsAll posit--but I still prefer the romantic interpretation due to its uniquely personal relevance. Does anyone else feel this way? That David changes the affectation of his voice at key points seems to lend credence to my theory (granted, I know the wanker isn't known for vocal uniformity).