I think Emily is lamenting about her life as an existentialist. The first verse is about the life she could be living, something of an orthodox life where right and wrong were set in stone and there wasn't a need to wonder. This is a life laid out to her by her father, a minister and in my mind the second person (the 'you') in the song. But she cannot live like he wants her to, so she leaves the comfort of certainty into a life of introspection.
The second verse starts with a warning from what she is leaving behind, but she admits she cannot avoid her thoughts and her questions even if she wants to, she must 'read the greek...'. The third verse cinches the song, where she confides how afraid she is that she won't succeed and her life will be fruitless. That's what makes the last few lines so meaningful, she knows she is risking everything and might have made a stupid decision to leave the happy little family at the table. 'To have the things that mean the most...' she wishes she could somehow hedge her bets, or find some sort of safety net because she knows what she has to lose. Unforgiving ... my favorite word of the song (just listen to how she says it) so perfectly describes how final her decision is and drives home how much of a risk she is taking by being who she must.
What can I say ... I'm glad she made the decision she did because she never would have written all her wonderful music as a mindless drone. I don't see anywhere in the song about her homosexuality but I none the less like what Colum1225 had to say. I'm pretty sure it isn't a love song, but I could be way off. Either way, its one of Emily Sailiers' best.
I think Emily is lamenting about her life as an existentialist. The first verse is about the life she could be living, something of an orthodox life where right and wrong were set in stone and there wasn't a need to wonder. This is a life laid out to her by her father, a minister and in my mind the second person (the 'you') in the song. But she cannot live like he wants her to, so she leaves the comfort of certainty into a life of introspection.
The second verse starts with a warning from what she is leaving behind, but she admits she cannot avoid her thoughts and her questions even if she wants to, she must 'read the greek...'. The third verse cinches the song, where she confides how afraid she is that she won't succeed and her life will be fruitless. That's what makes the last few lines so meaningful, she knows she is risking everything and might have made a stupid decision to leave the happy little family at the table. 'To have the things that mean the most...' she wishes she could somehow hedge her bets, or find some sort of safety net because she knows what she has to lose. Unforgiving ... my favorite word of the song (just listen to how she says it) so perfectly describes how final her decision is and drives home how much of a risk she is taking by being who she must.
What can I say ... I'm glad she made the decision she did because she never would have written all her wonderful music as a mindless drone. I don't see anywhere in the song about her homosexuality but I none the less like what Colum1225 had to say. I'm pretty sure it isn't a love song, but I could be way off. Either way, its one of Emily Sailiers' best.