I know a lot of people interpret this song as a breakup song, or about two lovers drifting away from each other.
While thats probably right, I've never seen it like that.
I'm agnostic, and don't know if I believe in a deity or not, so please don't be offended by the religious refrences I pressumed- they are in no way there to upset people of any religion, belief or idealogy
I've always interpreted it as a song about someone who was once very religious, but then a friend of his/hers dies very suddenly and it causes them to lose faith. He likes to think he'll see her again in a afterlife of some description, but can no longer bring himself to believe that, and instead concludes that there is nothing left of his loved one but a dead body, so he falls into a deep state of feeling foolish, uncertain and bitter. He wishes he could believe that her soul still lives on somewhere, but can't anymore.
Lets have a look at some of the lyrics;
"Many the lives we lived in each day
And buried altogether"
"and buried altogether" I always thought meant "In the end we'll be buried in the ground. Everyone. So whats the point?" This is him thinking fondly back to memories of his deceased love (and the "lives we lived in each day") but then realising it doesn't matter because they'll all die eventually, and they'll be nothing left of them. No memories, no soul, no heaven.
"You'll knock on my door and up we'll go
In white light
I don't think so
But what do I know
What do I know
I know"
The "white light" to me seems to signify the tunnel of light often associates with the journey to heaven/through purgatory. This is him trying to convince himself that his beloved has moved onto a better place and that he will see her again there. Then "I don't think so" seems to be him admitting hes not so sure anymore.
"But what do I know? What do I know? I know." Seems to be a representative of his confusion and uncertainty. Him wavering between believing and not believing, partially because its easier to believe.
In white light
I don't think so
But what do I know
What do I know
I know"
In white light
I don't think so
But what do I know
What do I know
I know"
Maybe he's not so sure he's pure enough to go where he hopes she is.. Since he's fallen by the wayside, held her back, never understood the same things 'she' did. Everyone laughed at him and looked away.. Like he was destined to be in a darker place. Although he does believe 'she' will knock when he passes (a sign on faith) and she'll stand stone lipped and unable to move for believe he is there and was always...
Maybe he's not so sure he's pure enough to go where he hopes she is.. Since he's fallen by the wayside, held her back, never understood the same things 'she' did. Everyone laughed at him and looked away.. Like he was destined to be in a darker place. Although he does believe 'she' will knock when he passes (a sign on faith) and she'll stand stone lipped and unable to move for believe he is there and was always a part of her. But he doesn't know whether to really commit to that idea.... :)
I know a lot of people interpret this song as a breakup song, or about two lovers drifting away from each other. While thats probably right, I've never seen it like that.
I'm agnostic, and don't know if I believe in a deity or not, so please don't be offended by the religious refrences I pressumed- they are in no way there to upset people of any religion, belief or idealogy
I've always interpreted it as a song about someone who was once very religious, but then a friend of his/hers dies very suddenly and it causes them to lose faith. He likes to think he'll see her again in a afterlife of some description, but can no longer bring himself to believe that, and instead concludes that there is nothing left of his loved one but a dead body, so he falls into a deep state of feeling foolish, uncertain and bitter. He wishes he could believe that her soul still lives on somewhere, but can't anymore.
Lets have a look at some of the lyrics; "Many the lives we lived in each day And buried altogether" "and buried altogether" I always thought meant "In the end we'll be buried in the ground. Everyone. So whats the point?" This is him thinking fondly back to memories of his deceased love (and the "lives we lived in each day") but then realising it doesn't matter because they'll all die eventually, and they'll be nothing left of them. No memories, no soul, no heaven.
"You'll knock on my door and up we'll go In white light I don't think so But what do I know What do I know I know"
The "white light" to me seems to signify the tunnel of light often associates with the journey to heaven/through purgatory. This is him trying to convince himself that his beloved has moved onto a better place and that he will see her again there. Then "I don't think so" seems to be him admitting hes not so sure anymore. "But what do I know? What do I know? I know." Seems to be a representative of his confusion and uncertainty. Him wavering between believing and not believing, partially because its easier to believe.
Really this is a heart rendering song.
In white light I don't think so But what do I know What do I know I know"
In white light I don't think so But what do I know What do I know I know"
Maybe he's not so sure he's pure enough to go where he hopes she is.. Since he's fallen by the wayside, held her back, never understood the same things 'she' did. Everyone laughed at him and looked away.. Like he was destined to be in a darker place. Although he does believe 'she' will knock when he passes (a sign on faith) and she'll stand stone lipped and unable to move for believe he is there and was always...
Maybe he's not so sure he's pure enough to go where he hopes she is.. Since he's fallen by the wayside, held her back, never understood the same things 'she' did. Everyone laughed at him and looked away.. Like he was destined to be in a darker place. Although he does believe 'she' will knock when he passes (a sign on faith) and she'll stand stone lipped and unable to move for believe he is there and was always a part of her. But he doesn't know whether to really commit to that idea.... :)