Galaxynamedafterme and Mundanely summed this one up very well, but for funsies I want to elaborate.
What I love about lyrics and poetry, especially the lyrics of Andy Hull and Aaron Weiss is the layers. There are so many layers to Andy's words, many I would venture to say not entirely intentional. Such is the mystery of language, such is the mystery of G-d. Here's what I get:
The Holy Spirit, or perhaps spirit of repentance, submission to G-d is weighing heavily on the speaker here (presumably Andy, given recent press releases and comments from the M.O. website concerning the album). He is like a wounded fighter though. He can't put up much of a fight at all. "Sword' could also represent the Word of G-d (whatever you take that to mean) as such an analogy is made in the Bible. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." from the book of Hebrews.
I am uncertain about the line beginning "Cheat. . ." Perhaps the seemingly unjust system of grace and mercy? That it is cheating to not have to pay for sins. The image of a cracked rib, as though something burst or was ripped literally out of one's heart through the rib cage is phenomenal. Of course, literally this action would lead to a very painful and physical death, but spiritually speaking, it is the speaker's pride that is to be ripped through his rib cage, and it is the death of self of which he speaks here more so than any physical death.
"I think I know you best when I sleep." My first inclination is to say this line couples with the following line to say simply "I am lazy and arrogant." Also, it could refer to revelation through dreams, or my mystically, the loss of consciousness and self in sleep is the closest the speaker can feel to G-d because during his waking hours he is prideful and therefore distant from G-d.
I like coupling the lines together best, though.
Brothers refers to either brothers in faith (the way Christians in the Bible refer to one another as brother and sister) or brothers in deed, anyone who is in the same boat, so to speak, as the singer. Tongues sharp as knives testifies to the power of words, possibly narrowing down "brothers" to mean others who communicate through song or poetry, wordsmiths of sorts, that have the passion and skill to pierce hearts, as Andy certainly does. The singer then declares to his brothers that he has found a way out. Out of what? Presumably the laziness and arrogance, the preoccupation with self. To simply call out to G-d, as he does throughout pretty much the rest of this song. To close your eyes and disappear into G-d.
The final lines of this verse again testify to Andy's profession. He is a songwriter, and it is through his songs that he best communicates with G-d. Not to say anything about how well or with what confidence he does this, just that it is the best he can do.
The chorus is clear. He calls out to G-d to give him perspective, to "see" to understand the ways of selflessness and love. "Take me to the river" is reference to baptism in a body of water like a river, which many Christians still practice, and indeed even Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. It is a call, no doubt, to repentance. Which is the clear intention of the singer.
The verse beginning "Grace taught" is without a doubt from the hymn Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. It's a tactful rephrasing of a small section of it retaining the same meaning. Fetter of course is a shackle of some sort used to bind arms or feet.
The honest in the repetition of "I'm going to leave You the first chance I get" is beautiful. What I love so much about Andy's lyrics is the honesty. He does not preach about religious views, he merely expresses them. He does not portray a spiritual life that is comfortable and confident (whose ever is?) nor does he condemn G-d or faith simply because he fails to understand it all the time. His lack of faith is not a testimony to the absence of G-d. He cries out in his songs because he has to, and for no other reason. So we have in the same song desperate cries of repentance and honest declarations of betrayal. He knows that he lacks understanding, and will turn from G-d again as soon as something else in life, big or small, appears to distract him. It is a confession of the dismal state of his heart.
The song's not that mysterious, and for most probably doesn't require this much explanation, but I just love it so much. This is a good album.
But did you ever consider that maybe the line "I think I know you the best when I sleep" could be more than depicting laziness? It's really too good a line for that, in my opinion. A person's subconscious is far more courageous than their typically over-analyzing, insecure concious. Without a social filter Andy allows himself to know something/someone best, behaving as he pleases.
But did you ever consider that maybe the line "I think I know you the best when I sleep" could be more than depicting laziness? It's really too good a line for that, in my opinion. A person's subconscious is far more courageous than their typically over-analyzing, insecure concious. Without a social filter Andy allows himself to know something/someone best, behaving as he pleases.
To me, this song screams of insecurity and a lack of resolve and frusteration with the two.
To me, this song screams of insecurity and a lack of resolve and frusteration with the two.
Galaxynamedafterme and Mundanely summed this one up very well, but for funsies I want to elaborate.
What I love about lyrics and poetry, especially the lyrics of Andy Hull and Aaron Weiss is the layers. There are so many layers to Andy's words, many I would venture to say not entirely intentional. Such is the mystery of language, such is the mystery of G-d. Here's what I get:
The Holy Spirit, or perhaps spirit of repentance, submission to G-d is weighing heavily on the speaker here (presumably Andy, given recent press releases and comments from the M.O. website concerning the album). He is like a wounded fighter though. He can't put up much of a fight at all. "Sword' could also represent the Word of G-d (whatever you take that to mean) as such an analogy is made in the Bible. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." from the book of Hebrews.
I am uncertain about the line beginning "Cheat. . ." Perhaps the seemingly unjust system of grace and mercy? That it is cheating to not have to pay for sins. The image of a cracked rib, as though something burst or was ripped literally out of one's heart through the rib cage is phenomenal. Of course, literally this action would lead to a very painful and physical death, but spiritually speaking, it is the speaker's pride that is to be ripped through his rib cage, and it is the death of self of which he speaks here more so than any physical death.
"I think I know you best when I sleep." My first inclination is to say this line couples with the following line to say simply "I am lazy and arrogant." Also, it could refer to revelation through dreams, or my mystically, the loss of consciousness and self in sleep is the closest the speaker can feel to G-d because during his waking hours he is prideful and therefore distant from G-d. I like coupling the lines together best, though.
Brothers refers to either brothers in faith (the way Christians in the Bible refer to one another as brother and sister) or brothers in deed, anyone who is in the same boat, so to speak, as the singer. Tongues sharp as knives testifies to the power of words, possibly narrowing down "brothers" to mean others who communicate through song or poetry, wordsmiths of sorts, that have the passion and skill to pierce hearts, as Andy certainly does. The singer then declares to his brothers that he has found a way out. Out of what? Presumably the laziness and arrogance, the preoccupation with self. To simply call out to G-d, as he does throughout pretty much the rest of this song. To close your eyes and disappear into G-d.
The final lines of this verse again testify to Andy's profession. He is a songwriter, and it is through his songs that he best communicates with G-d. Not to say anything about how well or with what confidence he does this, just that it is the best he can do.
The chorus is clear. He calls out to G-d to give him perspective, to "see" to understand the ways of selflessness and love. "Take me to the river" is reference to baptism in a body of water like a river, which many Christians still practice, and indeed even Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. It is a call, no doubt, to repentance. Which is the clear intention of the singer.
The verse beginning "Grace taught" is without a doubt from the hymn Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. It's a tactful rephrasing of a small section of it retaining the same meaning. Fetter of course is a shackle of some sort used to bind arms or feet.
The honest in the repetition of "I'm going to leave You the first chance I get" is beautiful. What I love so much about Andy's lyrics is the honesty. He does not preach about religious views, he merely expresses them. He does not portray a spiritual life that is comfortable and confident (whose ever is?) nor does he condemn G-d or faith simply because he fails to understand it all the time. His lack of faith is not a testimony to the absence of G-d. He cries out in his songs because he has to, and for no other reason. So we have in the same song desperate cries of repentance and honest declarations of betrayal. He knows that he lacks understanding, and will turn from G-d again as soon as something else in life, big or small, appears to distract him. It is a confession of the dismal state of his heart.
The song's not that mysterious, and for most probably doesn't require this much explanation, but I just love it so much. This is a good album.
You really articulated this well.
You really articulated this well.
But did you ever consider that maybe the line "I think I know you the best when I sleep" could be more than depicting laziness? It's really too good a line for that, in my opinion. A person's subconscious is far more courageous than their typically over-analyzing, insecure concious. Without a social filter Andy allows himself to know something/someone best, behaving as he pleases.
But did you ever consider that maybe the line "I think I know you the best when I sleep" could be more than depicting laziness? It's really too good a line for that, in my opinion. A person's subconscious is far more courageous than their typically over-analyzing, insecure concious. Without a social filter Andy allows himself to know something/someone best, behaving as he pleases.
To me, this song screams of insecurity and a lack of resolve and frusteration with the two.
To me, this song screams of insecurity and a lack of resolve and frusteration with the two.