As for interpretation, at first it seems that he is not talking to or about God. I think there is deliberate ambiguity here that leaves you wondering if he's talking about romantic love or God - which is something that could certainly be said of many songs about strong, deep love. And given works like "In a Dark Place", Numan is no stranger to conflicting thoughts about God.
My thought is that it could be about one of, or some combination of:
He truly loves this woman but that she cannot change or save him, and his thoughts, desires, and compulsions tend to take him away from her - but nonetheless, he still belongs to her.
He is speaking in the third person as a "believer" - a hypocritical believer. One who professes to believe in and love the word of God, but their every thought, feeling, desire, and action - even those done in God's name - contradict this belief and take them farther and farther away from their God.
It may seem odd, but I'm reminded of a James Mercer lyric:
"As you talk to me, too much you're assuming
We don't always want what's right."
Our feelings and desires aren't always "right" and we don't necessarily want to be "saved" from them.
I agree with your first interpretation, as he addresses the object of the song in the second person, and God in the third person - as an aside - and the rest of the song proceeds in the second person.
I agree with your first interpretation, as he addresses the object of the song in the second person, and God in the third person - as an aside - and the rest of the song proceeds in the second person.
Also, I'm not sure it is necessarily addressed at a lover. It could be addressed at anybody close to him, a good friend, a mentor, or even society. It might be addressed at a particular community, such as the church, or an ambitious or over-zealous parent. Perhaps it is left deliberately ambiguous so as to be addressable at anybody the...
Also, I'm not sure it is necessarily addressed at a lover. It could be addressed at anybody close to him, a good friend, a mentor, or even society. It might be addressed at a particular community, such as the church, or an ambitious or over-zealous parent. Perhaps it is left deliberately ambiguous so as to be addressable at anybody the listener desires - the mark of a good entertainer: he sings about the listener and not about himself.
One of my favorite Numan songs.
As for interpretation, at first it seems that he is not talking to or about God. I think there is deliberate ambiguity here that leaves you wondering if he's talking about romantic love or God - which is something that could certainly be said of many songs about strong, deep love. And given works like "In a Dark Place", Numan is no stranger to conflicting thoughts about God.
My thought is that it could be about one of, or some combination of:
He truly loves this woman but that she cannot change or save him, and his thoughts, desires, and compulsions tend to take him away from her - but nonetheless, he still belongs to her.
He is speaking in the third person as a "believer" - a hypocritical believer. One who professes to believe in and love the word of God, but their every thought, feeling, desire, and action - even those done in God's name - contradict this belief and take them farther and farther away from their God.
It may seem odd, but I'm reminded of a James Mercer lyric: "As you talk to me, too much you're assuming We don't always want what's right."
Our feelings and desires aren't always "right" and we don't necessarily want to be "saved" from them.
I agree with your first interpretation, as he addresses the object of the song in the second person, and God in the third person - as an aside - and the rest of the song proceeds in the second person.
I agree with your first interpretation, as he addresses the object of the song in the second person, and God in the third person - as an aside - and the rest of the song proceeds in the second person.
Also, I'm not sure it is necessarily addressed at a lover. It could be addressed at anybody close to him, a good friend, a mentor, or even society. It might be addressed at a particular community, such as the church, or an ambitious or over-zealous parent. Perhaps it is left deliberately ambiguous so as to be addressable at anybody the...
Also, I'm not sure it is necessarily addressed at a lover. It could be addressed at anybody close to him, a good friend, a mentor, or even society. It might be addressed at a particular community, such as the church, or an ambitious or over-zealous parent. Perhaps it is left deliberately ambiguous so as to be addressable at anybody the listener desires - the mark of a good entertainer: he sings about the listener and not about himself.