I think this song is about becoming an atheist, or at least divesting yourself from Christianity. There's references to evolution (tails, I know it's an old idiom, but I can't help but wonder), hanging upside down in a famous tree (the tree of knowledge from Genesis?), "twisted" afterlives, and the fact that the ruby ring man ignores him (and who is later revealed to be Christ).
I love the stanza with the line "tails between our legs". I interpreted that as a way to describe the embarrassment or shame the narrator might feel for some of his actions during life. In the context of that whole stanza, it seems like he may be suggesting that the Christian heaven is an awkward place, as everyone becomes a part of your "family tree".... even if you shared some unholy experiences with them ("kiss the devil's cheek"). He seems to be rejecting that idea of an afterlife, lamenting the supposed perfection of heaven.
I love the stanza with the line "tails between our legs". I interpreted that as a way to describe the embarrassment or shame the narrator might feel for some of his actions during life. In the context of that whole stanza, it seems like he may be suggesting that the Christian heaven is an awkward place, as everyone becomes a part of your "family tree".... even if you shared some unholy experiences with them ("kiss the devil's cheek"). He seems to be rejecting that idea of an afterlife, lamenting the supposed perfection of heaven.
...
But I love this idea of evolution in that line, too. It could be a way of suggesting that humanity no longer has a need for religion and God, or that belonging to this Utopian heaven is the equivalent to living as a less evolved being.
I think this song is about becoming an atheist, or at least divesting yourself from Christianity. There's references to evolution (tails, I know it's an old idiom, but I can't help but wonder), hanging upside down in a famous tree (the tree of knowledge from Genesis?), "twisted" afterlives, and the fact that the ruby ring man ignores him (and who is later revealed to be Christ).
I love the stanza with the line "tails between our legs". I interpreted that as a way to describe the embarrassment or shame the narrator might feel for some of his actions during life. In the context of that whole stanza, it seems like he may be suggesting that the Christian heaven is an awkward place, as everyone becomes a part of your "family tree".... even if you shared some unholy experiences with them ("kiss the devil's cheek"). He seems to be rejecting that idea of an afterlife, lamenting the supposed perfection of heaven.
I love the stanza with the line "tails between our legs". I interpreted that as a way to describe the embarrassment or shame the narrator might feel for some of his actions during life. In the context of that whole stanza, it seems like he may be suggesting that the Christian heaven is an awkward place, as everyone becomes a part of your "family tree".... even if you shared some unholy experiences with them ("kiss the devil's cheek"). He seems to be rejecting that idea of an afterlife, lamenting the supposed perfection of heaven.
...
But I love this idea of evolution in that line, too. It could be a way of suggesting that humanity no longer has a need for religion and God, or that belonging to this Utopian heaven is the equivalent to living as a less evolved being.