i'm a massive shins fan and i love this song. i'm not going to interpret it or anything, but i don't see why so many people can beileive that it's about religion (whether they agree with the themes or not)
In so many shins songs, mercer explains his (almost)* atheistic views, on not just religion but all/most structured philosphy.
in saint simon he says that he "values them (these taught belief) but i wont cry everytime ones wiped out"
in "young pilgrims" he says "if your able (as in, able to believe anything: christianity, hari krishna, marxism, harry potter) i suggest it/ cause this modern thought can get the best of you" (the modern biological thought of being dead equals nothingness for eternity.)
and finally in "A comet appears" he says "we can blow on our thumbs and postures but the lonley are such delicate things." ( as in, we might, he might, not be able to belive these many theories and religions, and as 21st century people we can take solice in evolution (opposable thumbs and upright postures are evidence of evolution) yet if we can fake a belief and truely force ourselves to belive it then we'll basically be happier (and not waste life worrying about death). that why i think people have created religions where you have to sacrifice something (sunday mornings, adultery lol) so these beliefs seem more real to them and they can therefore create "heaven on earth"
sorry for getting all philosphical in a lyrics blog.
i persoanlly think mercer is not an atheist he just lives in a time where you can go to your local religion and philosophy supermarket and chose from a choice of belief or even make your own. so he's not atheist, he just can't MAKE himself "buy" one.
i'm a massive shins fan and i love this song. i'm not going to interpret it or anything, but i don't see why so many people can beileive that it's about religion (whether they agree with the themes or not) In so many shins songs, mercer explains his (almost)* atheistic views, on not just religion but all/most structured philosphy. in saint simon he says that he "values them (these taught belief) but i wont cry everytime ones wiped out" in "young pilgrims" he says "if your able (as in, able to believe anything: christianity, hari krishna, marxism, harry potter) i suggest it/ cause this modern thought can get the best of you" (the modern biological thought of being dead equals nothingness for eternity.) and finally in "A comet appears" he says "we can blow on our thumbs and postures but the lonley are such delicate things." ( as in, we might, he might, not be able to belive these many theories and religions, and as 21st century people we can take solice in evolution (opposable thumbs and upright postures are evidence of evolution) yet if we can fake a belief and truely force ourselves to belive it then we'll basically be happier (and not waste life worrying about death). that why i think people have created religions where you have to sacrifice something (sunday mornings, adultery lol) so these beliefs seem more real to them and they can therefore create "heaven on earth" sorry for getting all philosphical in a lyrics blog.