I think there are only two ways how this may NOT be about God (and I find them both unlikely as I explain below)
1) She genuinely wrote it with a boy/love in mind but her subconscious belief meant her lyrics added that dimension without her immediately realising it
2) It's a cynical ploy to gain credit for adding gospel tones to a song cos Gospel tones equals traditional black (soulful) music and depth.
No. 1 is unlikely as production would have included the Gospel choir and the overall Gospel dynamism of the song to which, as the writer, I imagine she would have had to give her consnet.
No. 2 is VERY unlikely as having seen her in interviews, she seems a very down-to-earth and sincere young woman. A former medical student too so not daft and unlikely to under-estimate the public.
So now to the reasons for: The first verses indicate that she is well aware and has no doubt experienced all the human (not just male!) weaknesses that everyone is prone to. She may have been angry at her boyfriend and come to the sad but inevitable (and important) realisation that perfection will never be found in us or our fellow human beings and that it's unfair to expect it.
(By the way, if this WAS about a boy, it'd be unlikely and unfair to say that he was the only human being who had no failings! - "you won't find him..." etc )
She compares the perfection of God to these failings. (God being Jesus as it's quite blasphemous in other religions to reference God in such a personal way. Jesus (which was a common boys' first name at the time) by his very existence, was meant to personalise our relationship to a previously "distant" God who people were terrified of)
The final couple of verses take on an Apocalyptic tone. She's saying that her faith in Him being next to her will not waver no matter what catastrophes happen and even if the end of the world comes. The final verse alludes to a famous quote by Jesus in the Bible (Luke 21:33, Mark 13:31, Matthew 24:35): "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away" and also Matthew 28:20: "And remember, I am with you always, till the end of time".
I just doubt that it could be about a boy when she says things earlier in the song, like "You won't find him ever where the rest go" and "all my friends have vanished", "can't find no help or love for free" etc. I mean even the best person in the world would find it hard to live up to all that. If it was about a boy, there would be no Gospel choirs or apocalyptic overtones in the final lyrics.
I find the song very inspirational as I experienced something similar myself. Once I put 100% faith in God (through Jesus) - though one still has to work at it daily! - life got easier and one reason is that I stopped expecting people to be perfect and you forgive them (and yourself) much more easily if you don't expect perfection from people, just from God, whose love never wavers.
I think there are only two ways how this may NOT be about God (and I find them both unlikely as I explain below) 1) She genuinely wrote it with a boy/love in mind but her subconscious belief meant her lyrics added that dimension without her immediately realising it 2) It's a cynical ploy to gain credit for adding gospel tones to a song cos Gospel tones equals traditional black (soulful) music and depth. No. 1 is unlikely as production would have included the Gospel choir and the overall Gospel dynamism of the song to which, as the writer, I imagine she would have had to give her consnet. No. 2 is VERY unlikely as having seen her in interviews, she seems a very down-to-earth and sincere young woman. A former medical student too so not daft and unlikely to under-estimate the public. So now to the reasons for: The first verses indicate that she is well aware and has no doubt experienced all the human (not just male!) weaknesses that everyone is prone to. She may have been angry at her boyfriend and come to the sad but inevitable (and important) realisation that perfection will never be found in us or our fellow human beings and that it's unfair to expect it. (By the way, if this WAS about a boy, it'd be unlikely and unfair to say that he was the only human being who had no failings! - "you won't find him..." etc ) She compares the perfection of God to these failings. (God being Jesus as it's quite blasphemous in other religions to reference God in such a personal way. Jesus (which was a common boys' first name at the time) by his very existence, was meant to personalise our relationship to a previously "distant" God who people were terrified of) The final couple of verses take on an Apocalyptic tone. She's saying that her faith in Him being next to her will not waver no matter what catastrophes happen and even if the end of the world comes. The final verse alludes to a famous quote by Jesus in the Bible (Luke 21:33, Mark 13:31, Matthew 24:35): "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away" and also Matthew 28:20: "And remember, I am with you always, till the end of time". I just doubt that it could be about a boy when she says things earlier in the song, like "You won't find him ever where the rest go" and "all my friends have vanished", "can't find no help or love for free" etc. I mean even the best person in the world would find it hard to live up to all that. If it was about a boy, there would be no Gospel choirs or apocalyptic overtones in the final lyrics. I find the song very inspirational as I experienced something similar myself. Once I put 100% faith in God (through Jesus) - though one still has to work at it daily! - life got easier and one reason is that I stopped expecting people to be perfect and you forgive them (and yourself) much more easily if you don't expect perfection from people, just from God, whose love never wavers.