I agree with those who see religious imagery in this song. I think of this song almost as a conversation between the singer and a god she doesn't believe exists, or between her and the concept of god where she is outlining how she tried to consider the idea, but in the end it didnt make sense to believe it.
I interpreted the first lines to mean that the bible (the book of right-on) may have a lot of good things to say (even if you dont believe in god) but that those things are being ignored and instead people are using the book of right-on to promote less pleasant things (people using the bible as a weapon of hate, for example). So in that sense the narrator is saying "we should shine a light on" that sort of hypocrisy.
When she says "i killed my dinner..." and "taste the body" i see this as rejecting faith in god (her meal ticket to salvation? just a thought). I was raised Christian and there were constant references in church about god filling you up, making you full etc, so that you'll not "hunger". I see her as saying "thanks, but no thanks. I'll make my own way." Then the following part she offers the idea a temporary spot: "do you want to sit at my table" like saying "look, if you want to debate this idea, bring it on. Because i have no doubt that i'll win this one" (her fighting fame is fabled).
Same with the part "do you want to run with my pack/do you want a ride on my back" - its like the singer is being offered fellowship and a crutch to lean on, but she basically responds "no thanks, i don't need a crutch" I connect this back to Peach Plum Pear, where she says "i was riding its back when it used to ride me" and i get the imagery of being taken for a ride, not having control of the situation. She doesn't want to ride on anything's back, she wants to be strong and walk on her own (and not be taken for a ride).
With "and you do say/that you do pray/and you say/that you're ok" I see her as sorta saying "you're telling me you pray, and that everything is fine and God takes care of it, but there's something missing in your life or you wouldn't have sought out a crutch like religion in the first place", which i see again in the part where she says "pray that what you lack does not distract" almost like saying a person's belief in god is like putting the blinders on, so that you can believe that everything is going to be ok because its in god's hands. Maybe i think this because i've met too many Christians who were actually pretty messed up but were almost self-brainwashed into believing that they were ok because they could "give their burden to jesus".
I agree with those who see religious imagery in this song. I think of this song almost as a conversation between the singer and a god she doesn't believe exists, or between her and the concept of god where she is outlining how she tried to consider the idea, but in the end it didnt make sense to believe it.
I interpreted the first lines to mean that the bible (the book of right-on) may have a lot of good things to say (even if you dont believe in god) but that those things are being ignored and instead people are using the book of right-on to promote less pleasant things (people using the bible as a weapon of hate, for example). So in that sense the narrator is saying "we should shine a light on" that sort of hypocrisy.
When she says "i killed my dinner..." and "taste the body" i see this as rejecting faith in god (her meal ticket to salvation? just a thought). I was raised Christian and there were constant references in church about god filling you up, making you full etc, so that you'll not "hunger". I see her as saying "thanks, but no thanks. I'll make my own way." Then the following part she offers the idea a temporary spot: "do you want to sit at my table" like saying "look, if you want to debate this idea, bring it on. Because i have no doubt that i'll win this one" (her fighting fame is fabled).
Same with the part "do you want to run with my pack/do you want a ride on my back" - its like the singer is being offered fellowship and a crutch to lean on, but she basically responds "no thanks, i don't need a crutch" I connect this back to Peach Plum Pear, where she says "i was riding its back when it used to ride me" and i get the imagery of being taken for a ride, not having control of the situation. She doesn't want to ride on anything's back, she wants to be strong and walk on her own (and not be taken for a ride).
With "and you do say/that you do pray/and you say/that you're ok" I see her as sorta saying "you're telling me you pray, and that everything is fine and God takes care of it, but there's something missing in your life or you wouldn't have sought out a crutch like religion in the first place", which i see again in the part where she says "pray that what you lack does not distract" almost like saying a person's belief in god is like putting the blinders on, so that you can believe that everything is going to be ok because its in god's hands. Maybe i think this because i've met too many Christians who were actually pretty messed up but were almost self-brainwashed into believing that they were ok because they could "give their burden to jesus".
anyway, that's always been my take.