I don't think Regina is being bitter in this song. The actual melody is upbeat towards the end --- the lyrics can't be taken without actually listening to how she sings it. I think she is trying to tell a story about an average man being honored for just being human, the type that don't get awards in Time Magazine. He has had a lonely life (the verses are melancholy) but now he has his moment of fame.
As for criticism of religion, I notice these comments alway say any song with religious references (although than outright Christian rock) is criticizing religion and it's gotten really old with me really fast. The cathedral and mention of "hallelujah" is just to show the award ceremony is a grand celebration, I think. Among the old men whose "bald spots are glistening with gold" could be classical composers whom our society admires. J.S. Bach, a very famous composer, played the organ for church services. Beethoven wrote a Hallelujah piece. Imagine a hall filled with people dressed like they're attending a performance of a grand symphony.
Overall I think this song is a critique of the people society honors, as incoherentlove put it.
I don't think Regina is being bitter in this song. The actual melody is upbeat towards the end --- the lyrics can't be taken without actually listening to how she sings it. I think she is trying to tell a story about an average man being honored for just being human, the type that don't get awards in Time Magazine. He has had a lonely life (the verses are melancholy) but now he has his moment of fame.
As for criticism of religion, I notice these comments alway say any song with religious references (although than outright Christian rock) is criticizing religion and it's gotten really old with me really fast. The cathedral and mention of "hallelujah" is just to show the award ceremony is a grand celebration, I think. Among the old men whose "bald spots are glistening with gold" could be classical composers whom our society admires. J.S. Bach, a very famous composer, played the organ for church services. Beethoven wrote a Hallelujah piece. Imagine a hall filled with people dressed like they're attending a performance of a grand symphony.
Overall I think this song is a critique of the people society honors, as incoherentlove put it.