This song, it seems very likely and is how I interpret it, is about a female person who breaks free of religious dogma. She has realized the horrible truth about organized religion and wants something more in life....to think clearly and open minded about the possibilities in this world. And now that she has done that, she feels great and free about she sees the world.
First Verse: She has decided to stop mindlessly following a particular religion("she's doesn't care what the prophets say anymore"). And she is ready to face any possible negative attitudes towards this decision from people surrounding her. She won't back down.
Chorus: "she gathers rain to rinse away her guilt and pain"-----Rain is natural, no supernatural phenomena or god is needed to account for it. This is a metaphor for rational thought and she is using this rational awareness to stop any irrational guilt, etc from renouncing her faith or religion.
Verse 2: +"her imagination has started stretching wide"--she is realizing how much potential, for her, there is in this world now that she sees things clearly and in a new light.
+"And her new conviction no longer will she hide"---her new conviction(or new strong belief) is that she doesn't believe in that particular religion and she is seeing natural explanations for the world.
+"she's not branded when the prophets speak words of fire"----she won't be scared into believing anything.(example, so commonly being told "you are going to hell" if you dont belief, etc.)
+"the same love she gives, she requires"---she realizes that you can't love something imaginary(ie, god)
Great Song.
This song, it seems very likely and is how I interpret it, is about a female person who breaks free of religious dogma. She has realized the horrible truth about organized religion and wants something more in life....to think clearly and open minded about the possibilities in this world. And now that she has done that, she feels great and free about she sees the world.
First Verse: She has decided to stop mindlessly following a particular religion("she's doesn't care what the prophets say anymore"). And she is ready to face any possible negative attitudes towards this decision from people surrounding her. She won't back down.
Chorus: "she gathers rain to rinse away her guilt and pain"-----Rain is natural, no supernatural phenomena or god is needed to account for it. This is a metaphor for rational thought and she is using this rational awareness to stop any irrational guilt, etc from renouncing her faith or religion.
Verse 2: +"her imagination has started stretching wide"--she is realizing how much potential, for her, there is in this world now that she sees things clearly and in a new light. +"And her new conviction no longer will she hide"---her new conviction(or new strong belief) is that she doesn't believe in that particular religion and she is seeing natural explanations for the world. +"she's not branded when the prophets speak words of fire"----she won't be scared into believing anything.(example, so commonly being told "you are going to hell" if you dont belief, etc.) +"the same love she gives, she requires"---she realizes that you can't love something imaginary(ie, god)