I feel that this song is about a man who has chosen to objectify women in some way or another (rape, prostituting, general domination of weak minded women). He says that he stalks the streets, hunting for the next one that will hang on every word he speaks as if it is the truth. There are in fact people who get so rapt up in someone that they take everything that person says as the truth, ignoring things that would throw a red flag for most (physical, emotional, sexual abuse, infidelity, taking advantage of her).
The man has thrown away conventional virtues and without them, the "rewards" are good to him because it's what he wants. Without virtues, he is able to take part in all the worldly things he wants and enjoy them. He can run faster than guilt, meaning that he never takes the blame for what he does because what he does is never wrong in his own eyes.
But God confronts this sinner. It is obvious that the man has some glint of guilt as he speaks with God, saying "I wish I could be so much more than me." He knows what he is doing is wrong, and he wants to repent from it, but doesn't know how. He tells God that he doesn't believe he is worth the effort of saving. He feels that his sins are far too great to be forgiven, but the whole time God is telling him that he can and will forgive him.
He continues denying God's open arms, all the time reasoning to himself why he doesn't deserve to be saved. He says he is a dog that has tasted (flesh, sin) and turned (continued living in the flesh) and he has found his strength in another (meaning he finds strength in oppressing women). He continues to be resistant to the end of the song.
Finally, he tells God that he doesn't want to see his daughter conned and taken advantage of by someone like himself, a monster. He accepts God and asks to be put to sleep, presumably putting his sinful life to sleep so he can wake up anew and saved.
I'd also like to say that this song is the most moving to me. The absolute intensity of the conversation between the sinner and God is amazingly well constructed and executed.
I feel that this song is about a man who has chosen to objectify women in some way or another (rape, prostituting, general domination of weak minded women). He says that he stalks the streets, hunting for the next one that will hang on every word he speaks as if it is the truth. There are in fact people who get so rapt up in someone that they take everything that person says as the truth, ignoring things that would throw a red flag for most (physical, emotional, sexual abuse, infidelity, taking advantage of her).
The man has thrown away conventional virtues and without them, the "rewards" are good to him because it's what he wants. Without virtues, he is able to take part in all the worldly things he wants and enjoy them. He can run faster than guilt, meaning that he never takes the blame for what he does because what he does is never wrong in his own eyes.
But God confronts this sinner. It is obvious that the man has some glint of guilt as he speaks with God, saying "I wish I could be so much more than me." He knows what he is doing is wrong, and he wants to repent from it, but doesn't know how. He tells God that he doesn't believe he is worth the effort of saving. He feels that his sins are far too great to be forgiven, but the whole time God is telling him that he can and will forgive him.
He continues denying God's open arms, all the time reasoning to himself why he doesn't deserve to be saved. He says he is a dog that has tasted (flesh, sin) and turned (continued living in the flesh) and he has found his strength in another (meaning he finds strength in oppressing women). He continues to be resistant to the end of the song.
Finally, he tells God that he doesn't want to see his daughter conned and taken advantage of by someone like himself, a monster. He accepts God and asks to be put to sleep, presumably putting his sinful life to sleep so he can wake up anew and saved.
I'd also like to say that this song is the most moving to me. The absolute intensity of the conversation between the sinner and God is amazingly well constructed and executed.
this is exactly the way i c it awesome analysis
this is exactly the way i c it awesome analysis