This song draws an analogy between two different redshift effects, where the color (and wavelength in general, once it gets outside the range of visible light) of light from far away changes due to the expansion of the universe and gravitational fields, and the understanding of what is right and good in a situation.
"Cosmological redshift is seen due to the expansion of the universe, and sufficiently distant light sources (generally more than a few million light years away) show redshift corresponding to the rate of increase of their distance from Earth. Finally, gravitational redshifts are a relativistic effect observed in electromagnetic radiation moving out of gravitational fields." -Wikipedia
Hence: "Gravity and distance change the passage of light."
The song describes the understanding of what is right as having to do with a balance of justice and mercy, informed by knowledge about the situation -- "a quantity of light."
But here too, "gravity and distance" -- in which gravity assumes its other definition, having to do with the seriousness and urgency of the situation -- change our understanding of a situation, and even its objective nature. "Gravity and distance change the passage of light," and since that light, that understanding, is a crucial part of determining what is right, "gravity and distance change the color of right," just as they change the color of light from distant galaxies.
This explains "You're so full of what is right you can't see what is true," and "I'm so full of what is right I can't see what is good." Dogmatic systems of morality, and the determination to adhere to them, often blind people to looking at the true nature of a situation to understand the truth about them. Unwilling to look outside their ethical rules and see if something different is required, they ignore or don't bother searching for the truth, or even basic common-sense goodness, so that they can force their understanding and their moral judgment into their understanding of what is right, rather than improving their understanding of what is right by considering the situation they face.
This song draws an analogy between two different redshift effects, where the color (and wavelength in general, once it gets outside the range of visible light) of light from far away changes due to the expansion of the universe and gravitational fields, and the understanding of what is right and good in a situation.
"Cosmological redshift is seen due to the expansion of the universe, and sufficiently distant light sources (generally more than a few million light years away) show redshift corresponding to the rate of increase of their distance from Earth. Finally, gravitational redshifts are a relativistic effect observed in electromagnetic radiation moving out of gravitational fields." -Wikipedia
Hence: "Gravity and distance change the passage of light."
The song describes the understanding of what is right as having to do with a balance of justice and mercy, informed by knowledge about the situation -- "a quantity of light."
But here too, "gravity and distance" -- in which gravity assumes its other definition, having to do with the seriousness and urgency of the situation -- change our understanding of a situation, and even its objective nature. "Gravity and distance change the passage of light," and since that light, that understanding, is a crucial part of determining what is right, "gravity and distance change the color of right," just as they change the color of light from distant galaxies.
This explains "You're so full of what is right you can't see what is true," and "I'm so full of what is right I can't see what is good." Dogmatic systems of morality, and the determination to adhere to them, often blind people to looking at the true nature of a situation to understand the truth about them. Unwilling to look outside their ethical rules and see if something different is required, they ignore or don't bother searching for the truth, or even basic common-sense goodness, so that they can force their understanding and their moral judgment into their understanding of what is right, rather than improving their understanding of what is right by considering the situation they face.