i absoulutely love this song. it completely related to a situation i had with a friend..or ex-friend..anyways it helped me get through that really tough time with her because i would listen to it again and again. I am a Christian, and i believe that Jesus saved us all from sin so we are all forgiven, just as this song says.
so now about the meaning...
i think the song is pretty straightforward, but the first part talks about "I know this tension that you speak of
We're in the palm of a hand making a fist"
^ This is stating that there's a conflict between two people, and they are in a fight. i really like the matt's lyrics "palm of a hand making a fist" because if you visualize this, its like they are getting crushed, just like their relationship. the fist is also a symbol of anger because you make fists when your mad..(i would say duh here but i feel thats a little bit kindergarden..).
"It'd be best for one of us to speak up
But we prefer to pretend it does not exist"
^ Pretty straight-up, the two people in the fight or argument are ignoring the problem and not discussing it even though they know it would be better to talk about it and try to work it out. basically, they aren't talking.
"And you can't see past the blood on my hands
To see that you've been aptly damned
To fail and fail again"
^ The other person in the fight just can't find the inner strength to forgive the narrator, they can't look past what the person did even if they said they were sorry and meant it. The opposer thinks that what the person did is far worse than anything he/she has ever done, even though this is not true because we have all sinned and will continue sinning (fail and fail again)
"Cause we're all guilty of the same things
We think the thoughts whether or not we see them through"
^ This is similar to what i just said about the pre-chorus, about how everyone sins. But, it goes further to say that thinking evil thoughts is EQUALLY sinful as committing the physical sin. This is an important message that should be emphasized more than it is.
"And I know that I have been forgiven
And I just hope you can forgive me too"
^ I love this part of the chorus. Its saying that I know that because i have prayed to God and asked for his forgiveness, I know that he has forgiven me because all sin was forgiven when Jesus died for us. Even if this person never forgives you (but you JUST HOPE they will), you know that you have been forgiven by God who matters way more than this person.
"So don't you dare blame me for
Prying open the door
That's unleashed the bitterness
Thats here in the midst of this"
^ This is the narrator speaking to the person that refuses to forgive them. They are saying that you need to own up to the part that you contributed to this problem, because I did not start this all by myself. I have owned up to what I have done to cause it, and have prayed for forgiveness, now its your turn. Don't just put the blame on me, look at yourself and see what YOU've done.
"Sometimes we live for no one but ourselves"
^ This I THINK means that the opposer is saying that the narrator caused all of the problems because it makes them feel better and less guilty about their part in the argument. OR my other theory is: the narrator is saying I know that what i did was wrong, i was being selfish and only focusing on my life and what is best for me, rather than considering others and the consequences and i'm sorry. I REALLY WANT TO HEAR ANY OTHER IDEAS THOUGH!
i really don't get what matt is talking about in this next part of the verse, does anyone want to explain it to me? the only line that i do understand is " we kiss goodbye the cheek of our true love". I bet that a lot of people who hear that immediately think of a dating relationship or romance, but true love can be with friends or family too. It's saying that since we have been so immature about this whole situation (by ignoring it and not talking) we have basically destroyed the amazing thing that we had. And the "kissing goodbye" isn't like an "i'll see you soon" goodbye its like "i'll miss you because i'll never see/have you again". it's so sad!
from there its just repeating, but its still AMAZING, MOVING AND DEEP AND I REALLY WANT PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS ON THE PART OF VERSE 2 THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND! THANKS SO MUCH!
p.s. sorry my comment is so long, i just think about this song like ever day and wanted to get it all out!
It was long, but worth reading. A little white space can make reading long passages easier.
It was long, but worth reading. A little white space can make reading long passages easier.
I think your second theory on "Sometimes we live for no one but ourselves" is right.
I think your second theory on "Sometimes we live for no one but ourselves" is right.
As for
As for
"And what we've been striving for
Has turned into nothing more
Than bodies limp on the floor
Victims of falling short",
"And what we've been striving for
Has turned into nothing more
Than bodies limp on the floor
Victims of falling short",
I think he's saying that all the arguing over who is to blame and whatnot has reduced their relationship to condemning each other for their shortcomings. He's saying that they are figuratively killing each other over these shortcomings.
I think he's saying that all the arguing over who is to blame and whatnot has reduced their relationship to condemning each other for their shortcomings. He's saying that they are figuratively killing each other over these shortcomings.
i absoulutely love this song. it completely related to a situation i had with a friend..or ex-friend..anyways it helped me get through that really tough time with her because i would listen to it again and again. I am a Christian, and i believe that Jesus saved us all from sin so we are all forgiven, just as this song says.
so now about the meaning... i think the song is pretty straightforward, but the first part talks about "I know this tension that you speak of We're in the palm of a hand making a fist" ^ This is stating that there's a conflict between two people, and they are in a fight. i really like the matt's lyrics "palm of a hand making a fist" because if you visualize this, its like they are getting crushed, just like their relationship. the fist is also a symbol of anger because you make fists when your mad..(i would say duh here but i feel thats a little bit kindergarden..). "It'd be best for one of us to speak up But we prefer to pretend it does not exist" ^ Pretty straight-up, the two people in the fight or argument are ignoring the problem and not discussing it even though they know it would be better to talk about it and try to work it out. basically, they aren't talking. "And you can't see past the blood on my hands To see that you've been aptly damned To fail and fail again" ^ The other person in the fight just can't find the inner strength to forgive the narrator, they can't look past what the person did even if they said they were sorry and meant it. The opposer thinks that what the person did is far worse than anything he/she has ever done, even though this is not true because we have all sinned and will continue sinning (fail and fail again) "Cause we're all guilty of the same things We think the thoughts whether or not we see them through" ^ This is similar to what i just said about the pre-chorus, about how everyone sins. But, it goes further to say that thinking evil thoughts is EQUALLY sinful as committing the physical sin. This is an important message that should be emphasized more than it is. "And I know that I have been forgiven And I just hope you can forgive me too" ^ I love this part of the chorus. Its saying that I know that because i have prayed to God and asked for his forgiveness, I know that he has forgiven me because all sin was forgiven when Jesus died for us. Even if this person never forgives you (but you JUST HOPE they will), you know that you have been forgiven by God who matters way more than this person. "So don't you dare blame me for Prying open the door That's unleashed the bitterness Thats here in the midst of this" ^ This is the narrator speaking to the person that refuses to forgive them. They are saying that you need to own up to the part that you contributed to this problem, because I did not start this all by myself. I have owned up to what I have done to cause it, and have prayed for forgiveness, now its your turn. Don't just put the blame on me, look at yourself and see what YOU've done. "Sometimes we live for no one but ourselves" ^ This I THINK means that the opposer is saying that the narrator caused all of the problems because it makes them feel better and less guilty about their part in the argument. OR my other theory is: the narrator is saying I know that what i did was wrong, i was being selfish and only focusing on my life and what is best for me, rather than considering others and the consequences and i'm sorry. I REALLY WANT TO HEAR ANY OTHER IDEAS THOUGH!
i really don't get what matt is talking about in this next part of the verse, does anyone want to explain it to me? the only line that i do understand is " we kiss goodbye the cheek of our true love". I bet that a lot of people who hear that immediately think of a dating relationship or romance, but true love can be with friends or family too. It's saying that since we have been so immature about this whole situation (by ignoring it and not talking) we have basically destroyed the amazing thing that we had. And the "kissing goodbye" isn't like an "i'll see you soon" goodbye its like "i'll miss you because i'll never see/have you again". it's so sad!
from there its just repeating, but its still AMAZING, MOVING AND DEEP AND I REALLY WANT PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS ON THE PART OF VERSE 2 THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND! THANKS SO MUCH!
p.s. sorry my comment is so long, i just think about this song like ever day and wanted to get it all out!
It was long, but worth reading. A little white space can make reading long passages easier.
It was long, but worth reading. A little white space can make reading long passages easier.
I think your second theory on "Sometimes we live for no one but ourselves" is right.
I think your second theory on "Sometimes we live for no one but ourselves" is right.
As for
As for
"And what we've been striving for Has turned into nothing more Than bodies limp on the floor Victims of falling short",
"And what we've been striving for Has turned into nothing more Than bodies limp on the floor Victims of falling short",
I think he's saying that all the arguing over who is to blame and whatnot has reduced their relationship to condemning each other for their shortcomings. He's saying that they are figuratively killing each other over these shortcomings.
I think he's saying that all the arguing over who is to blame and whatnot has reduced their relationship to condemning each other for their shortcomings. He's saying that they are figuratively killing each other over these shortcomings.