It's so goofy how people read into the lyricism whatever their personal worldview is. I mean, in no way is this song about finding god or some variation of god. Give me a break. That's ridiculous. It's pretty blatant what the intent is here: "It is cold in heaven" (In other words, the opposite of what most religious people think. It's not a warm place.) "I'm not sprouting wings" (This idea of become angelic and floating away into heaven is going to happen to the person in the song. He doesn't believe it, because it's nonsense.) He looks to nature's example instead: "Brother can you see those birds? / They don't look to heaven. / They don't need religion, they can see." Yes, the song isn't knocking someone's religion -- but it is saying (the speaker of the song) that for him he will NEVER believe that stuff. In fact, if he's drowning or dying of cold -- he doesn't believe in god or the devil coming to get him ("Nothing's coming after me") -- you just end and become part of nature once again: "Breathing ourselves". That last bit is very Walt Whitman like. We all die and fall into the earth to become the leaves of grass, the air, etc. It's quite beautiful.
"No one's coming after me" is a reference to Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
"No one's coming after me" is a reference to Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see?
Coming for to carry me home
I saw a band of angels coming after me
Coming for to carry me home
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see?
Coming for to carry me home
I saw a band of angels coming after me
Coming for to carry me home
I do wonder if the birds were intended as a reference to Matthew: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns..." They fly up off the water, leave it be.
I do wonder if the birds were intended as a reference to Matthew: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns..." They fly up off the water, leave it be.
I am a religious person, and I agree with what you're saying. I...
I am a religious person, and I agree with what you're saying. I also think that the intended audience is either religious people because they will probably catch references, or maybe it's a personal song to the part of himself that must have struggled with these things at least long enough to generate interesting thoughts and an opinion. Either way I think it is a beautiful song.
It's so goofy how people read into the lyricism whatever their personal worldview is. I mean, in no way is this song about finding god or some variation of god. Give me a break. That's ridiculous. It's pretty blatant what the intent is here: "It is cold in heaven" (In other words, the opposite of what most religious people think. It's not a warm place.) "I'm not sprouting wings" (This idea of become angelic and floating away into heaven is going to happen to the person in the song. He doesn't believe it, because it's nonsense.) He looks to nature's example instead: "Brother can you see those birds? / They don't look to heaven. / They don't need religion, they can see." Yes, the song isn't knocking someone's religion -- but it is saying (the speaker of the song) that for him he will NEVER believe that stuff. In fact, if he's drowning or dying of cold -- he doesn't believe in god or the devil coming to get him ("Nothing's coming after me") -- you just end and become part of nature once again: "Breathing ourselves". That last bit is very Walt Whitman like. We all die and fall into the earth to become the leaves of grass, the air, etc. It's quite beautiful.
I meant "ISN'T going to happen" ... Oops. Sorry about that.
I meant "ISN'T going to happen" ... Oops. Sorry about that.
"No one's coming after me" is a reference to Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
"No one's coming after me" is a reference to Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see? Coming for to carry me home I saw a band of angels coming after me Coming for to carry me home
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see? Coming for to carry me home I saw a band of angels coming after me Coming for to carry me home
I do wonder if the birds were intended as a reference to Matthew: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns..." They fly up off the water, leave it be.
I do wonder if the birds were intended as a reference to Matthew: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns..." They fly up off the water, leave it be.
I am a religious person, and I agree with what you're saying. I...
I am a religious person, and I agree with what you're saying. I also think that the intended audience is either religious people because they will probably catch references, or maybe it's a personal song to the part of himself that must have struggled with these things at least long enough to generate interesting thoughts and an opinion. Either way I think it is a beautiful song.