I personally think that this song is exploring our society’s dependence on faith and religion. I think that the chorus (‘Are we pretending? I like pretending.) is a comment on how humans are reluctant to accept their probable solitude. I think that the idea of being alone in life scares many people, and Chris Corner is drawing attention to these shared irrational insecurities. I think this song is commenting on how people are willing to deceive themselves in order to avoid confronting their deep insecurities (in the context of religion).
I think that Chris Corner’s lyrics are amazing, poetic and memorable. I think that the phrase ‘Symbiotic self indulgence’ is a comment on how people can be motivated to indulge others if they believe that they can benefit. Linking this to the religious them of the song, it could be interpreted that people feel that they benefit from devoting time and money to religion, as they are then assured of the presence of a deity.
Another notable phrase is: ‘If we dig deep/the circuitry burnt out, bends/into neurotic repetition.’ I think that this could refer to the fact that if people are truly exposed, their deepest insecurities (isolation and solitude) are revealed.
Thanks for reading my interpretation…please bear in mind that I think that IAMX’s music is bordering on perfection, and that nothing in this comment is intended to be offensive.
I personally think that this song is exploring our society’s dependence on faith and religion. I think that the chorus (‘Are we pretending? I like pretending.) is a comment on how humans are reluctant to accept their probable solitude. I think that the idea of being alone in life scares many people, and Chris Corner is drawing attention to these shared irrational insecurities. I think this song is commenting on how people are willing to deceive themselves in order to avoid confronting their deep insecurities (in the context of religion).
I think that Chris Corner’s lyrics are amazing, poetic and memorable. I think that the phrase ‘Symbiotic self indulgence’ is a comment on how people can be motivated to indulge others if they believe that they can benefit. Linking this to the religious them of the song, it could be interpreted that people feel that they benefit from devoting time and money to religion, as they are then assured of the presence of a deity.
Another notable phrase is: ‘If we dig deep/the circuitry burnt out, bends/into neurotic repetition.’ I think that this could refer to the fact that if people are truly exposed, their deepest insecurities (isolation and solitude) are revealed.
Thanks for reading my interpretation…please bear in mind that I think that IAMX’s music is bordering on perfection, and that nothing in this comment is intended to be offensive.