I have listened to this song a hundred times and always thought it was somewhat senseless. One day it came to me, "I am" is what God calls himself in the bible. It's arguable to me that in a fit of lonliness and dispair that a man should call out to God for help. But sometimes, no matter how hard you scream, he doesn't seem to hear you. He feels like even God has abandonded him. (But he hasn't)
It took me years before I realized this is what the line "I'm not a man who likes to swear" meant. I think what he's doing is saying "I am" to the world, affirming his existence despite the way the world seems to ignore him. But he also knows that this declaration is, in a conservative way, blasphemous. Whether or not he's directing cries to god, the song is a testament to emotional conflict that just about anyone can relate to.
It took me years before I realized this is what the line "I'm not a man who likes to swear" meant. I think what he's doing is saying "I am" to the world, affirming his existence despite the way the world seems to ignore him. But he also knows that this declaration is, in a conservative way, blasphemous. Whether or not he's directing cries to god, the song is a testament to emotional conflict that just about anyone can relate to.
I just created this account and was looking for someone to mention that "I AM" is how God refers to himself. Finally came across IknowIknow and Tomalak at the end! Thank you! I don't disagree with the other messages that he was alone, crying out, etc. But his choice of those two words is not just interesting, but I think intentional. God tells Moses that "I AM" is his name when he asks for his name to give to Pharoah. Neil is (purportedly) Jewish. It's in the Old Testament of the Bible and the...
I just created this account and was looking for someone to mention that "I AM" is how God refers to himself. Finally came across IknowIknow and Tomalak at the end! Thank you! I don't disagree with the other messages that he was alone, crying out, etc. But his choice of those two words is not just interesting, but I think intentional. God tells Moses that "I AM" is his name when he asks for his name to give to Pharoah. Neil is (purportedly) Jewish. It's in the Old Testament of the Bible and the Torah that God refers to himself by those words and very intentionally and prominently. Neil would know that. Also, I think Neil might be a "closet Christian", or perhaps open to the concept of just a "Higher Power". His songs indicate a sense of Christianity. And that's a good thing (not anti-Jewish here, please)! Just a strong believer in Jesus and I'm listening to Neil sing a Christmas song - Away In a Manger - as I write this.
I have listened to this song a hundred times and always thought it was somewhat senseless. One day it came to me, "I am" is what God calls himself in the bible. It's arguable to me that in a fit of lonliness and dispair that a man should call out to God for help. But sometimes, no matter how hard you scream, he doesn't seem to hear you. He feels like even God has abandonded him. (But he hasn't)
It took me years before I realized this is what the line "I'm not a man who likes to swear" meant. I think what he's doing is saying "I am" to the world, affirming his existence despite the way the world seems to ignore him. But he also knows that this declaration is, in a conservative way, blasphemous. Whether or not he's directing cries to god, the song is a testament to emotional conflict that just about anyone can relate to.
It took me years before I realized this is what the line "I'm not a man who likes to swear" meant. I think what he's doing is saying "I am" to the world, affirming his existence despite the way the world seems to ignore him. But he also knows that this declaration is, in a conservative way, blasphemous. Whether or not he's directing cries to god, the song is a testament to emotional conflict that just about anyone can relate to.
I just created this account and was looking for someone to mention that "I AM" is how God refers to himself. Finally came across IknowIknow and Tomalak at the end! Thank you! I don't disagree with the other messages that he was alone, crying out, etc. But his choice of those two words is not just interesting, but I think intentional. God tells Moses that "I AM" is his name when he asks for his name to give to Pharoah. Neil is (purportedly) Jewish. It's in the Old Testament of the Bible and the...
I just created this account and was looking for someone to mention that "I AM" is how God refers to himself. Finally came across IknowIknow and Tomalak at the end! Thank you! I don't disagree with the other messages that he was alone, crying out, etc. But his choice of those two words is not just interesting, but I think intentional. God tells Moses that "I AM" is his name when he asks for his name to give to Pharoah. Neil is (purportedly) Jewish. It's in the Old Testament of the Bible and the Torah that God refers to himself by those words and very intentionally and prominently. Neil would know that. Also, I think Neil might be a "closet Christian", or perhaps open to the concept of just a "Higher Power". His songs indicate a sense of Christianity. And that's a good thing (not anti-Jewish here, please)! Just a strong believer in Jesus and I'm listening to Neil sing a Christmas song - Away In a Manger - as I write this.