I think Beggars is a good album. For me it gets increasingly better with every listen but I'm not too sure about this song yet. I think the meaning is simple in that the things we seek most aren't worth much in the afterlife. As an atheist I think it is tough to relate to this song. Thrice is obviously a religious band or at least expresses aspects of faith in their music but I think this song may be a bit of overkill. Musically it's an okay song, sounds very similar to some of their work on their fire disc but I'm not sure if I'm sold on this song quite yet.
You don't have to be religious to relate to this song. Hell, this is one of the most agnostic/secular songs that Dustin has ever written. There's no mention of God, and there's not even any actual discussion of the afterlife.
You don't have to be religious to relate to this song. Hell, this is one of the most agnostic/secular songs that Dustin has ever written. There's no mention of God, and there's not even any actual discussion of the afterlife.
The song is really about what defines a life as a success or as a waste. The speaker has spent his life in denial of what really matters - humility, relationships, the treatment of others, and so on - and has been "looking out for number one." (These are obviously important principles in Christian teachings, but those...
The song is really about what defines a life as a success or as a waste. The speaker has spent his life in denial of what really matters - humility, relationships, the treatment of others, and so on - and has been "looking out for number one." (These are obviously important principles in Christian teachings, but those morals and virtues aren't exclusive to religion.) As the speaker is dying, he slowly comes to the realization that he isn't the "good man" that he thought he was - that he's wasted his life by missing the real point to living.
Obviously in the context of Dustin's beliefs the song is referring to the speaker's judgment by God at the end of his life, but the message doesn't really rely on that religious imagery. Morality, selflessness, and altruism aren't exclusive to Christianity, and neither is the message that this song conveys.
Can't edit my previous post, but there is one mention of God when he says "My God now I see how I've squandered each and every breath"... I still think my point stands, though, as it's mostly used as an expression of surprise and regret there. And even if the speaker is religious, the message still isn't, because he's not necessarily being judged by God here; he's actually judging himself, and the only punishment he receives is the knowledge of a life lived without purpose or meaning.
Can't edit my previous post, but there is one mention of God when he says "My God now I see how I've squandered each and every breath"... I still think my point stands, though, as it's mostly used as an expression of surprise and regret there. And even if the speaker is religious, the message still isn't, because he's not necessarily being judged by God here; he's actually judging himself, and the only punishment he receives is the knowledge of a life lived without purpose or meaning.
I think Beggars is a good album. For me it gets increasingly better with every listen but I'm not too sure about this song yet. I think the meaning is simple in that the things we seek most aren't worth much in the afterlife. As an atheist I think it is tough to relate to this song. Thrice is obviously a religious band or at least expresses aspects of faith in their music but I think this song may be a bit of overkill. Musically it's an okay song, sounds very similar to some of their work on their fire disc but I'm not sure if I'm sold on this song quite yet.
You don't have to be religious to relate to this song. Hell, this is one of the most agnostic/secular songs that Dustin has ever written. There's no mention of God, and there's not even any actual discussion of the afterlife.
You don't have to be religious to relate to this song. Hell, this is one of the most agnostic/secular songs that Dustin has ever written. There's no mention of God, and there's not even any actual discussion of the afterlife.
The song is really about what defines a life as a success or as a waste. The speaker has spent his life in denial of what really matters - humility, relationships, the treatment of others, and so on - and has been "looking out for number one." (These are obviously important principles in Christian teachings, but those...
The song is really about what defines a life as a success or as a waste. The speaker has spent his life in denial of what really matters - humility, relationships, the treatment of others, and so on - and has been "looking out for number one." (These are obviously important principles in Christian teachings, but those morals and virtues aren't exclusive to religion.) As the speaker is dying, he slowly comes to the realization that he isn't the "good man" that he thought he was - that he's wasted his life by missing the real point to living.
Obviously in the context of Dustin's beliefs the song is referring to the speaker's judgment by God at the end of his life, but the message doesn't really rely on that religious imagery. Morality, selflessness, and altruism aren't exclusive to Christianity, and neither is the message that this song conveys.
Can't edit my previous post, but there is one mention of God when he says "My God now I see how I've squandered each and every breath"... I still think my point stands, though, as it's mostly used as an expression of surprise and regret there. And even if the speaker is religious, the message still isn't, because he's not necessarily being judged by God here; he's actually judging himself, and the only punishment he receives is the knowledge of a life lived without purpose or meaning.
Can't edit my previous post, but there is one mention of God when he says "My God now I see how I've squandered each and every breath"... I still think my point stands, though, as it's mostly used as an expression of surprise and regret there. And even if the speaker is religious, the message still isn't, because he's not necessarily being judged by God here; he's actually judging himself, and the only punishment he receives is the knowledge of a life lived without purpose or meaning.