I think it's meant to poke fun at the "Catholic guilt" and guilt in general. BTE is not a religious band, as evidenced most clearly by their earlier song "Heaven".
My interpretation is it's about people who were once religious but have grown less so as they grew older or renounced religion altogether. I'm one of those, and though I don't believe in any of the human definitions of "god" anymore, my Catholic upbringing is still strong. I still get apprehensive at times on whether by the simple fact of not believing (even if I live my life conscientiously) would mean I would still go to hell.
The biblical imagery is pretty strong in this. And the chorus itself deals with apostasy.
"Living out of the pocket, out of your socket" <- living life without depending on a deity or religion
"Leaning like a Pisa, a moaning Lisa" <- drifting from the main church teachings
"You come a pleading, but it's too late, we can't hear you, you're on the list now" <- that list of the damned
"Lord knows you ain't that bright
Better let your dim light shine"
^ A sarcastic take on Matthew 5:16 ("Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven"), about how god thinks you're apparently not fit to lead your own life and make your own decisions. Thus you should be guided very closely, while condescendingly bidding you to shine your pitiful "light".
I think it's meant to poke fun at the "Catholic guilt" and guilt in general. BTE is not a religious band, as evidenced most clearly by their earlier song "Heaven".
My interpretation is it's about people who were once religious but have grown less so as they grew older or renounced religion altogether. I'm one of those, and though I don't believe in any of the human definitions of "god" anymore, my Catholic upbringing is still strong. I still get apprehensive at times on whether by the simple fact of not believing (even if I live my life conscientiously) would mean I would still go to hell.
The biblical imagery is pretty strong in this. And the chorus itself deals with apostasy.
"Living out of the pocket, out of your socket" <- living life without depending on a deity or religion "Leaning like a Pisa, a moaning Lisa" <- drifting from the main church teachings "You come a pleading, but it's too late, we can't hear you, you're on the list now" <- that list of the damned
"Lord knows you ain't that bright Better let your dim light shine"
^ A sarcastic take on Matthew 5:16 ("Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven"), about how god thinks you're apparently not fit to lead your own life and make your own decisions. Thus you should be guided very closely, while condescendingly bidding you to shine your pitiful "light".