I would say this song is definitely apocalyptical.
Emmanuel was sent to help the Isrealites repent for their sins and return to God.
"He comes dividing man from brothers" probably meaning at judgement day, when God divides the righteous from the evil, and evil dies forever. Brothers would maybe mean brothers to Jesus, i.e. friends/supporters. "I see the fire, I see the end" i'm guessing would refer to something in the book of revelation.
I couldn't begin to guess about the relevance of "Oh my mother, she betrayed us, but my father loved and bathed us." But it is a really powerful line.
I love the last two lines, they just sound sort of sad and wistful.
@cutie_carnivore
It took me a while, but i think I somehow got it now.
As some people already mentioned the "Oh my mother, she betrayed us" line is probably a personal experience/ memory.
In this context the mother is a betrayer. If you see it like this, the expression "Emanuel of mothers" makes sense: It means something like: God is with the betrayers, the sinners and so on. (Emanuel = God is with us)
"but my father loved and bathed us" means that God, our heavenly father loves us and cleans us from our sins....
@cutie_carnivore
It took me a while, but i think I somehow got it now.
As some people already mentioned the "Oh my mother, she betrayed us" line is probably a personal experience/ memory.
In this context the mother is a betrayer. If you see it like this, the expression "Emanuel of mothers" makes sense: It means something like: God is with the betrayers, the sinners and so on. (Emanuel = God is with us)
"but my father loved and bathed us" means that God, our heavenly father loves us and cleans us from our sins.
I would say this song is definitely apocalyptical. Emmanuel was sent to help the Isrealites repent for their sins and return to God. "He comes dividing man from brothers" probably meaning at judgement day, when God divides the righteous from the evil, and evil dies forever. Brothers would maybe mean brothers to Jesus, i.e. friends/supporters. "I see the fire, I see the end" i'm guessing would refer to something in the book of revelation. I couldn't begin to guess about the relevance of "Oh my mother, she betrayed us, but my father loved and bathed us." But it is a really powerful line. I love the last two lines, they just sound sort of sad and wistful.
@cutie_carnivore It took me a while, but i think I somehow got it now. As some people already mentioned the "Oh my mother, she betrayed us" line is probably a personal experience/ memory. In this context the mother is a betrayer. If you see it like this, the expression "Emanuel of mothers" makes sense: It means something like: God is with the betrayers, the sinners and so on. (Emanuel = God is with us) "but my father loved and bathed us" means that God, our heavenly father loves us and cleans us from our sins....
@cutie_carnivore It took me a while, but i think I somehow got it now. As some people already mentioned the "Oh my mother, she betrayed us" line is probably a personal experience/ memory. In this context the mother is a betrayer. If you see it like this, the expression "Emanuel of mothers" makes sense: It means something like: God is with the betrayers, the sinners and so on. (Emanuel = God is with us) "but my father loved and bathed us" means that God, our heavenly father loves us and cleans us from our sins.