AKS9977's comment is off track. It reveals more abut AKS9977' hatred of revealed religion than about the lyrics of the song.
Certainly Ed has a spiritual direction in his lyrics and this song is fraught with spiritual elements but it is not a flat out indictment of "revealed religion" or even of Christianity. It is, instead an indictment of modern religious culture -- but not religion itself -- nor of Christianity per se. Instead it is a plea that the true cleansing spirituality be liberated from the shackles of encrusted tradition that comprise modern religious views.
There is a certain way that I think this view is valid and also there is a certain way that it is a bit immature. But it is phrased in a very appealing and mature way, so this song is quite appealing. Here is what I think the words really mean:
Pain lies On The Riverside
I have never taken life,
Yet I have often paid the price
**What is the price of taking a life? It is at least imprisonment. But in his case, this imprisonment is unfair. The author has done nothing to merit his "imprisonment" (at least in his mind).
And you, you are a victim of this age
And the guilt that hangs around your neck
Has got me locked up in a cage
*****It is someone ELSE's guilt (the victims of THIS age) that has him locked up in a cage. It is guilt -- not of ancient times -- but modern, and related a pendant (crucifix, medal, emblem) that hangs around that "person's" neck. In other words, what the author believes to be modern misconceptions of spirituality has injured him unfairly. Implications are that formality in practice leads to stifling of truth.
There is no politics here. No issues of church and state. But there is an indictment of a particular type of religious culture that holds one back from true spirituality.
You've to learn to live until no end
But first you must learn to swim
All over again
***You have to learn something new. A different approach to things to have "never ending life". This involves becoming re-familiar and expert in "Water". It is very much an analog to baptism, which is discussed below.
Because...
Pain lies on the riverside
And pain will never say goodbye
Pain lies on the riverside
****Not being in the water -- not being cleansed -- is painful. You must enter the water and be purified and be comfortable in that condition or you will remain in pain.
So put your feet in the water
Put your head in the water
Put your soul in the water
And join me for a swim tonight
****A plea for us to all enter the water and be purified body and soul.
I have forever, always tried
To stay clean and constantly baptized
****The author claims that he, himself has made use of the powers of the water -- though his word "tried" suggests he has not always been successful.
I am aware that the river's banks are dry
And to wait for a flood
Is to wait for life
Waiting on the Riverside is waiting in pain, hoping the water will come to you. This is putting yourself in the hands of chance and you may possibly remain in pain. Instead you should go into the water and not wait.
If you should wait, and there comes a flood, you will find the water brings life. However, you may not be prepared for it so really... you must learn to swim:
I've got to learn to live until no end
But first I must learn to swim all
Over again
**** Again, you have to learn this new life and be comfortable in it. Waiting for it to come is no assurance. Exercise yourself and learn to live until no end. Otherwise you will live your life forever in pain because you will remain on the Riverside and as was already said:
Because...
Pain lies on the riverside
So, this is not a rant about Christianity or "revealed religion". It is about the harm that comes from the "mental jewelry" given to us by modern culture that prevents us from seeing true spiritual cleanliness.
***** MY CAVEAT **
Just because I interpret the song in this way does not mean that I necessarily agree with these views. I for one, DO happen to agree that laziness in culture can does and has led to a lax spirituality. But I do not automatically feel that people who exercise disciplines or wear religious artifacts are necessarily harmful to others nor are they necessarily spiritually lax.
AKS9977's comment is off track. It reveals more abut AKS9977' hatred of revealed religion than about the lyrics of the song.
Certainly Ed has a spiritual direction in his lyrics and this song is fraught with spiritual elements but it is not a flat out indictment of "revealed religion" or even of Christianity. It is, instead an indictment of modern religious culture -- but not religion itself -- nor of Christianity per se. Instead it is a plea that the true cleansing spirituality be liberated from the shackles of encrusted tradition that comprise modern religious views.
There is a certain way that I think this view is valid and also there is a certain way that it is a bit immature. But it is phrased in a very appealing and mature way, so this song is quite appealing. Here is what I think the words really mean:
Pain lies On The Riverside
I have never taken life, Yet I have often paid the price
**What is the price of taking a life? It is at least imprisonment. But in his case, this imprisonment is unfair. The author has done nothing to merit his "imprisonment" (at least in his mind).
And you, you are a victim of this age And the guilt that hangs around your neck Has got me locked up in a cage
*****It is someone ELSE's guilt (the victims of THIS age) that has him locked up in a cage. It is guilt -- not of ancient times -- but modern, and related a pendant (crucifix, medal, emblem) that hangs around that "person's" neck. In other words, what the author believes to be modern misconceptions of spirituality has injured him unfairly. Implications are that formality in practice leads to stifling of truth.
There is no politics here. No issues of church and state. But there is an indictment of a particular type of religious culture that holds one back from true spirituality.
You've to learn to live until no end But first you must learn to swim All over again
***You have to learn something new. A different approach to things to have "never ending life". This involves becoming re-familiar and expert in "Water". It is very much an analog to baptism, which is discussed below.
Because... Pain lies on the riverside And pain will never say goodbye Pain lies on the riverside
****Not being in the water -- not being cleansed -- is painful. You must enter the water and be purified and be comfortable in that condition or you will remain in pain.
So put your feet in the water Put your head in the water Put your soul in the water And join me for a swim tonight
****A plea for us to all enter the water and be purified body and soul.
I have forever, always tried To stay clean and constantly baptized
****The author claims that he, himself has made use of the powers of the water -- though his word "tried" suggests he has not always been successful.
I am aware that the river's banks are dry And to wait for a flood Is to wait for life
Waiting on the Riverside is waiting in pain, hoping the water will come to you. This is putting yourself in the hands of chance and you may possibly remain in pain. Instead you should go into the water and not wait.
If you should wait, and there comes a flood, you will find the water brings life. However, you may not be prepared for it so really... you must learn to swim:
I've got to learn to live until no end But first I must learn to swim all Over again
**** Again, you have to learn this new life and be comfortable in it. Waiting for it to come is no assurance. Exercise yourself and learn to live until no end. Otherwise you will live your life forever in pain because you will remain on the Riverside and as was already said:
Because... Pain lies on the riverside
So, this is not a rant about Christianity or "revealed religion". It is about the harm that comes from the "mental jewelry" given to us by modern culture that prevents us from seeing true spiritual cleanliness.
***** MY CAVEAT **
Just because I interpret the song in this way does not mean that I necessarily agree with these views. I for one, DO happen to agree that laziness in culture can does and has led to a lax spirituality. But I do not automatically feel that people who exercise disciplines or wear religious artifacts are necessarily harmful to others nor are they necessarily spiritually lax.