Lyric discussion by Dman3981 

Cover art for Bartholomew lyrics by Silent Comedy, The

The song is about a man who has had a troubled past riddled with sin and he his trying to make amends for all of it but it is never as simple as just asking for forgiveness because the memories will usually haunt you.

"Oh my god please help me knee deep in the river trying to get clean He says wash your hands get out the stains but you best believe boy there's hell to pay yeah you best believe boy there's hell to pay"

He is only partially in sin trying to get rid of it and God is saying you can get forgiveness but you will have to pay a price.

"Oh my God please help me waist deep in the river can you hear my plea He says son you come like a begger in the streets you might make it boy but by the skin of your teeth."

Once again he is getting deeper in sin and is trying to get rid of it and God is once again saying he can but it won't be easy.

"I rambled with the worst of them fell in love with a harlequin Saw the darkest hearts of men And I saw myself staring back again and I saw myself staring back again"

This is just him explaining the wrongs he has done in his life.

"Oh my God please help me neck deep in the river screaming for relief He says it's mine to give but it's yours to choose you gonna sink or swim you gonna learn the truth no matter what you do your gonna learn the truth saying"

Now he is almost consumed by sin and God is basically saying he can give forgiveness but only if he really wants it and to do so he must know the truth of all the bad he has done and what kind of person he made himself.

"Ate the bread that once was stones Fell from a cliff never broke a bone Bowed down to get the kings overthrown Now I'm all alone and the fires grows and I'm all alone and the fires grows"

Not sure what the first line is but fell from a cliff most likely meant he tried committing suicide and failed. Bowed down means he used deceit and betrayal to get what he wanted. The last line is a reference to where all these bad things have lead him, alone and in pain.

"Swing sweet charity take what's left of me A new beginning or is this the end Swing sweet Seraphim take me back again or watch me make the messes of men"

This is his last wish for him to be saved. Seraphims are fiery six winged beings that constantly sing "holy holy holy". Their jobs are to watch God's throne and to keep order so he is hoping they will take him and return order or he will just end up going back to his wicked ways.

Also the name of the song "Batholomew" refers to Saint Bartholomew whose death is accounted to being skinned alive which can be seen as shedding old life and beginning anew.

Song Meaning

Ok first off, great explanation, but I want to clarify. "Ate the bread that once was stones Fell from a cliff never broke a bone Bowed down to get the kings overthrown Now I'm all alone and the fires grows and I'm all alone and the fires grows" This is an illusion to Jesus Christ. The first line talks about when Jesus was in the desert and was temped by the devil. The devil told Jesus to command a stone to turn to bread so that Jesus would break his oath of fasting and eat. The second line is another temptation. The devil said...

I completely agree with you except for

"Ate the bread that once was stones Fell from a cliff never broke a bone Bowed down to get the kings overthrown Now I'm all alone and the fires grows and I'm all alone and the fires grows"

this is a clear allusion to Jesus' temptations from the devil meaning that the character gave into all the temptations the devil threw at him and now finds himself in hell

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a harelquin usually a mute who is masked? If we're going with the religious tone, Satan may mask himself but would he really be a mute?