This song speaks about hypocrisy amongst Christians. This is an amazing song and the message is powerful, true, and unfortunately sobering.
"Smile, wave
Convince the sanctuary, our charade
Though you're the object of my deepest rage Just counterfeit this holiness for me
And everything will be OK"
This part is the antagonist telling the protagonist (which we find out later is a little girl, assumingly the daughter of the antagonist). She is instructed to act happy in front of the sanctuary [of Christians] so as to not embarrass or demean the antagonist. Pretend or Counterfeit the holiness that many Christians act out in Churches.
"My sweet one
You tell no lies
the greatest reason to be despised
But we must pretend
Your broken wrist
Just happened when you fell off your bike"
Here, the antagonist is explaining to the little girl that even though she tells no lies (since lying is greatest reason to be despised) she has to pretend that her wrist broke when she fell off her bike. Its implied in the verse before this one that her wrist actually broke due to some sort of rage stemming from the antagonist... most likely this little girl was the victim of child abuse.
"So this is
The reason
The Sanctuary Hums
God save us
God save us
From your chosen ones"
Which brings us to the Chorus. "So this is the reason the Sanctuary Hums" could mean a lot of different things. I won't make a guess since I am not sure, but "God save us from your chosen ones" is much more specific. Often times its Christians who can do the most harm. In this case, not only has the antagonist injured a helpless child, he is also forcing her to pretend everything is ok, and thereby telling her there is no one she can run for help to. To add to the effect the song is trying to bring across, he is singing about a person who is going to Church, maybe even someone in leadership at that Church (given the quote from Andrew Schwab, lead singer of Project 86).
"Smile, wave
Protect his pulpit from all suffering
He'll make celebrity the end game
So much more valuable than family
Not even violence can betray...
As long as you keep your lips
locked up till the end of this age"
I believe Andrew Schwab is being sarcastic here. Instructing us to protect the pulput from suffering, even though that is the place to bring suffering.
"And even if you don't it's your word up against what he'll say"
The implication here is that even if she does try to ask to help, the antagonist will deny the accusation and will more than likely avoid facing responsibility for his actions.
"Cry, Girl
Become the wails of victims unheard
Your tears have given you the calm nerve
So if they're asking you to hide your bane
You just keep screaming to the grave"
These words are directed to the abused little girl. She is being encouraged to cry, regardless of the oppression and opposition she might have to face. Maybe cry isn't the implied meaning, maybe 'cry out' against hypocrisy amongst Christians is more appropriate. She is told to use the nerve she has built from her the tears she has shed in the past as strength.
"You'll be the reason
The helpless celebrate"
And here is the end goal. This girl can overcome the situation and be the reason other victims of the same fate celebrate, knowing its possible to overcome the difficulty.
"He takes us From our violent shame"
God takes us away from our difficult situations. To include those that are in place due to Christians falling short of their mark.
This song speaks about hypocrisy amongst Christians. This is an amazing song and the message is powerful, true, and unfortunately sobering.
"Smile, wave Convince the sanctuary, our charade Though you're the object of my deepest rage Just counterfeit this holiness for me And everything will be OK"
This part is the antagonist telling the protagonist (which we find out later is a little girl, assumingly the daughter of the antagonist). She is instructed to act happy in front of the sanctuary [of Christians] so as to not embarrass or demean the antagonist. Pretend or Counterfeit the holiness that many Christians act out in Churches.
"My sweet one You tell no lies the greatest reason to be despised But we must pretend Your broken wrist Just happened when you fell off your bike"
Here, the antagonist is explaining to the little girl that even though she tells no lies (since lying is greatest reason to be despised) she has to pretend that her wrist broke when she fell off her bike. Its implied in the verse before this one that her wrist actually broke due to some sort of rage stemming from the antagonist... most likely this little girl was the victim of child abuse.
"So this is The reason The Sanctuary Hums God save us God save us From your chosen ones"
Which brings us to the Chorus. "So this is the reason the Sanctuary Hums" could mean a lot of different things. I won't make a guess since I am not sure, but "God save us from your chosen ones" is much more specific. Often times its Christians who can do the most harm. In this case, not only has the antagonist injured a helpless child, he is also forcing her to pretend everything is ok, and thereby telling her there is no one she can run for help to. To add to the effect the song is trying to bring across, he is singing about a person who is going to Church, maybe even someone in leadership at that Church (given the quote from Andrew Schwab, lead singer of Project 86).
"Smile, wave Protect his pulpit from all suffering He'll make celebrity the end game So much more valuable than family Not even violence can betray... As long as you keep your lips locked up till the end of this age"
I believe Andrew Schwab is being sarcastic here. Instructing us to protect the pulput from suffering, even though that is the place to bring suffering.
"And even if you don't it's your word up against what he'll say"
The implication here is that even if she does try to ask to help, the antagonist will deny the accusation and will more than likely avoid facing responsibility for his actions.
"Cry, Girl Become the wails of victims unheard Your tears have given you the calm nerve So if they're asking you to hide your bane You just keep screaming to the grave"
These words are directed to the abused little girl. She is being encouraged to cry, regardless of the oppression and opposition she might have to face. Maybe cry isn't the implied meaning, maybe 'cry out' against hypocrisy amongst Christians is more appropriate. She is told to use the nerve she has built from her the tears she has shed in the past as strength.
"You'll be the reason The helpless celebrate"
And here is the end goal. This girl can overcome the situation and be the reason other victims of the same fate celebrate, knowing its possible to overcome the difficulty.
"He takes us From our violent shame"
God takes us away from our difficult situations. To include those that are in place due to Christians falling short of their mark.