(silly UI... one wrong click and I have two partial posts I can't delete)... here we go again
First, as to Dave's or Daniel's respective religious orientations - it isn't necessary to be a believer to understand (or appreciate) Christian symbolism and themes. I don't think Dave is a Christian, I take him at his word as an agnostic.
That said, I have two reads on this:
It's about the passion of Jesus Christ
a. Jesus began his ministry through baptism by Jean-Baptiste
(in the deep water, symbolizing the grave)
b. This could be spoken in the ecstasy of martyrdom
(standing arms open ~ upon the cross)
(body bent & broken)
(doubt & fear - "Father, why hast thou forsaken me?")
(yielding to clarity and visions - angels, divine justice)
(hands of the Maker - "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit")
(was John the Apostle at the crucifixion?)
c. Christ as the symbol of righteous justice (the flaming sword etc.)
(homeless daughters with broken wings... fallen angels? not very clear)
This is a perspective of Christ as a man who came through his experiences to a belief in his divinity and ultimate understanding of his purpose.
It's a crisis of faith and indictment of the Christian religion in a (former?) believer's history of faith
a. Lost & seeking
(arms open, feeling lost and unfeeling)
(staring into the black water... pre-baptism? again, reference to the grave)
b. Salvation
(baptism)
(feeling of oneness and understanding in the hands of the maker)
c. Questioning & doubt
(homeless daughters with broken wings = people of the faith whom God allows to suffer)
(East of Eden is a tragic Steinbeck novel, with Cain/Abel references)
There is an interesting distinction between being a stranger in the eyes of the maker but not a stranger in the hands of the maker. This could be read to reject belief in God's love (personal interest in each and every person), but a recognition of God's imputed actions (often capricious or seemingly unjust).
In any case, a melancholy and thoughtful song. A great song.
(silly UI... one wrong click and I have two partial posts I can't delete)... here we go again
First, as to Dave's or Daniel's respective religious orientations - it isn't necessary to be a believer to understand (or appreciate) Christian symbolism and themes. I don't think Dave is a Christian, I take him at his word as an agnostic.
That said, I have two reads on this:
It's about the passion of Jesus Christ a. Jesus began his ministry through baptism by Jean-Baptiste (in the deep water, symbolizing the grave) b. This could be spoken in the ecstasy of martyrdom (standing arms open ~ upon the cross) (body bent & broken) (doubt & fear - "Father, why hast thou forsaken me?") (yielding to clarity and visions - angels, divine justice) (hands of the Maker - "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit") (was John the Apostle at the crucifixion?) c. Christ as the symbol of righteous justice (the flaming sword etc.) (homeless daughters with broken wings... fallen angels? not very clear)
This is a perspective of Christ as a man who came through his experiences to a belief in his divinity and ultimate understanding of his purpose.
It's a crisis of faith and indictment of the Christian religion in a (former?) believer's history of faith a. Lost & seeking (arms open, feeling lost and unfeeling) (staring into the black water... pre-baptism? again, reference to the grave) b. Salvation (baptism) (feeling of oneness and understanding in the hands of the maker) c. Questioning & doubt (homeless daughters with broken wings = people of the faith whom God allows to suffer) (East of Eden is a tragic Steinbeck novel, with Cain/Abel references)
There is an interesting distinction between being a stranger in the eyes of the maker but not a stranger in the hands of the maker. This could be read to reject belief in God's love (personal interest in each and every person), but a recognition of God's imputed actions (often capricious or seemingly unjust).
In any case, a melancholy and thoughtful song. A great song.