I think it's about some group of people other than beggars, since that first line says "Tired LIKE the beggar". I could see this song referring to any group which is marginalized and ignored by its community, a community that mistakenly thinks they're "doing fine".
Whatever the group, its members find solace in the words of Jesus - "In Luke and John, the things he said". After all, Jesus' teachings are wide and welcoming enough to appeal to radically different people: socialists, capitalists, conservatives, liberals, and so on. That particular line fits nicely with the album's larger theme of seeking answers in religion.
(Picked my favorite song off the new Belle & Sebastian album for my first comment. I love the guitar bits in this.)
I agree these are biblical references, but I wouldn't take them too seriously. Belle and Sebastian's (Murdoch's)treatment of religion has been more sarcastic than anything else - from the very first song in their catalogue, in fact ("The State That I Am In").
I agree these are biblical references, but I wouldn't take them too seriously. Belle and Sebastian's (Murdoch's)treatment of religion has been more sarcastic than anything else - from the very first song in their catalogue, in fact ("The State That I Am In").
I think it's about some group of people other than beggars, since that first line says "Tired LIKE the beggar". I could see this song referring to any group which is marginalized and ignored by its community, a community that mistakenly thinks they're "doing fine".
Whatever the group, its members find solace in the words of Jesus - "In Luke and John, the things he said". After all, Jesus' teachings are wide and welcoming enough to appeal to radically different people: socialists, capitalists, conservatives, liberals, and so on. That particular line fits nicely with the album's larger theme of seeking answers in religion.
(Picked my favorite song off the new Belle & Sebastian album for my first comment. I love the guitar bits in this.)
I agree these are biblical references, but I wouldn't take them too seriously. Belle and Sebastian's (Murdoch's)treatment of religion has been more sarcastic than anything else - from the very first song in their catalogue, in fact ("The State That I Am In").
I agree these are biblical references, but I wouldn't take them too seriously. Belle and Sebastian's (Murdoch's)treatment of religion has been more sarcastic than anything else - from the very first song in their catalogue, in fact ("The State That I Am In").