This song has very obvious Christian overtones woven throughout, I know this is not a DMB original, but Dave actually has a lot of Christian references in his music. Now the only thing is if you are a Christian and/or choose to follow along with the thoughts, and obviously nobody really knows the meaning, save the writer.
I like what barnsinister and Idanielsen have to say. Here are some other thoughts:
Verse 1: The water could be the 4 rivers that converge in Eden, Adam screws up (runs a twisted line) and is now ashamed to be seen by God. So, he finally comes out to confront his mistake and God is angry, curses the ground and banishes Adam/Eve from the garden of course they are going to be afraid, scared and confused regarding the uncertainty of their future.
Verse 2: Could go in a multitude of directions with this one. "Across the great divide, in the distance I saw light" could be referencing the great chasm between the earthly and spiritual realm. John the Baptist was Jesus' brother, there are some small and ancient philosophies that believe John was actually the Messiah. "Body was bent and broken, from a long and dangerous sleep" could be referencing Adam/Eve here again, Genesis 2:21-23, and perhaps the lineage of John-Abraham-Shem-Noah-Adam. It could also be talking about our spiritual sleep when we are not in the presence of God here on earth, and what a toll that can take on us. I have heard reference of "working the fields of Abraham" with regards to reaching out to the lost, as abraham is considered the father of the nations. And the realization that if you believe we are made in God's image then we cannot be strangers in God's eyes, no matter what our sins are.
Verse 3: "...homeless daughters, standing there with broken wings..." could be a reference to "fallen angels" or sinners, just like adam/eve. In a Christian system of faith we are all sinners and will be judged for our own sins not for adam and eve's transgressions. The end of this verse is very biblical indeed, Genesis 3:23-24 "So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life." God was indeed angry.
Verse 4: could be referencing the resurrection.
Just some thoughts, your journey is your own make it worth the ride. Dave made a good pick singing this brilliant song.
peace
Wolf.
This song has very obvious Christian overtones woven throughout, I know this is not a DMB original, but Dave actually has a lot of Christian references in his music. Now the only thing is if you are a Christian and/or choose to follow along with the thoughts, and obviously nobody really knows the meaning, save the writer.
I like what barnsinister and Idanielsen have to say. Here are some other thoughts: Verse 1: The water could be the 4 rivers that converge in Eden, Adam screws up (runs a twisted line) and is now ashamed to be seen by God. So, he finally comes out to confront his mistake and God is angry, curses the ground and banishes Adam/Eve from the garden of course they are going to be afraid, scared and confused regarding the uncertainty of their future.
Verse 2: Could go in a multitude of directions with this one. "Across the great divide, in the distance I saw light" could be referencing the great chasm between the earthly and spiritual realm. John the Baptist was Jesus' brother, there are some small and ancient philosophies that believe John was actually the Messiah. "Body was bent and broken, from a long and dangerous sleep" could be referencing Adam/Eve here again, Genesis 2:21-23, and perhaps the lineage of John-Abraham-Shem-Noah-Adam. It could also be talking about our spiritual sleep when we are not in the presence of God here on earth, and what a toll that can take on us. I have heard reference of "working the fields of Abraham" with regards to reaching out to the lost, as abraham is considered the father of the nations. And the realization that if you believe we are made in God's image then we cannot be strangers in God's eyes, no matter what our sins are.
Verse 3: "...homeless daughters, standing there with broken wings..." could be a reference to "fallen angels" or sinners, just like adam/eve. In a Christian system of faith we are all sinners and will be judged for our own sins not for adam and eve's transgressions. The end of this verse is very biblical indeed, Genesis 3:23-24 "So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life." God was indeed angry.
Verse 4: could be referencing the resurrection.
Just some thoughts, your journey is your own make it worth the ride. Dave made a good pick singing this brilliant song. peace Wolf.
Sorry, said John and Jesus were brothers...incorrect. They were cousins.
Sorry, said John and Jesus were brothers...incorrect. They were cousins.