The Apostate Lyrics

Lyric discussion by parkerdanniel 

Cover art for The Apostate lyrics by Swans

Through hermetic practice, and hard work, the apostate rejects the goals and methods of the church, or in this case, modern culture, in an attempt to make his own, in line with his own spiritual beliefs. This suffering to fulfill an even greater ecstasy and elation is building a ladder to god.

In short this is about the purity of the outsiders self-made beliefs.