I think the song is saying that no matter what you believe, you're going to die as an unbeliever in something. For example, I'm a Christian and when I die, I'll be known as an unbeliever to my Muslim friends. I forget where I read the interview, but Ezra said something to the effect that the song is all about how there's so many different divisive groups and how he'd like to see a little unity. It's not necessarily religious, but it's definitely got religious influences with verses like, "If I'm born again, the world will disagree." Christians often say that they are not "of this world" and the world would obviously disagree. It's one of my favorite songs and if anyone can find that interview I'm talking about, it'd be greatly appreciated.
I like this interpretation, but I certainly think it's a religious song (much like most of the new album - see Ya Hey).
I like this interpretation, but I certainly think it's a religious song (much like most of the new album - see Ya Hey).
Grace, warmth, heat, and light - are all metaphors for spiritual support, and spiritual love. If I'm an unbeliever (don't believe in God) or a believer in a different religion (don't believe in the "correct" God), who's gonna save a little grace for me? Will there be an afterlife for me?
Grace, warmth, heat, and light - are all metaphors for spiritual support, and spiritual love. If I'm an unbeliever (don't believe in God) or a believer in a different religion (don't believe in the "correct" God), who's gonna save a little grace for me? Will there be an afterlife for me?
We know the fire (hell) awaits unbelievers, so as an unbeliever, I'm not excited for an afterlife, but should I be? Is this...
We know the fire (hell) awaits unbelievers, so as an unbeliever, I'm not excited for an afterlife, but should I be? Is this the fate that half of the world (folks who believe in God, or folks who believe in a dominant religion like Christianity) has planned for me?
The cool thing is that Ezra wrote one song on the album from a "believers" point of view (Ya Hey) and one from an "unbelievers" point of view. He's come a long way from writing about sleeping on the balcony after class.
I found the interview where Ezra talks about a 'believer' always being an 'unbeliever' of another faith. He also talks about his dislike of false dichotomies being presented when it comes to religion, politics, etc. I think he's trying to highlight the conundrum of finding faith/spirituality in a world where religious beliefs can be polarizing.
I found the interview where Ezra talks about a 'believer' always being an 'unbeliever' of another faith. He also talks about his dislike of false dichotomies being presented when it comes to religion, politics, etc. I think he's trying to highlight the conundrum of finding faith/spirituality in a world where religious beliefs can be polarizing.
I found the interview where Ezra talks about a 'believer' always being an 'unbeliever' of another faith. He also talks about his dislike of false dichotomies being presented when it comes to religion, politics, etc. I think he's trying to highlight the conundrum of finding faith/spirituality in a world where religious beliefs can be polarizing.
I found the interview where Ezra talks about a 'believer' always being an 'unbeliever' of another faith. He also talks about his dislike of false dichotomies being presented when it comes to religion, politics, etc. I think he's trying to highlight the conundrum of finding faith/spirituality in a world where religious beliefs can be polarizing.
Koenig explained the song's meaning to NME: "There's something very powerful about religious imagery," he said, "and I've always been very interested in various religions, whether it was the one I was raised in or ones that I experienced myself. I don't like to...
Koenig explained the song's meaning to NME: "There's something very powerful about religious imagery," he said, "and I've always been very interested in various religions, whether it was the one I was raised in or ones that I experienced myself. I don't like to be dismissive in any way of religion. In some ways I feel very connected to it, some of the imagery in that song, talking about the fire, is something that I find powerful.
Something that I started thinking about on the last record (was) how much I can't relate to any ways of thinking that divide the world into two distinct parts," he continued. "Whether that's atheism versus religion or Republican versus Democrat, there's all these false dichotomies in the world that can be very confusing when you're trying to make up your mind about how you feel about a situation. It's almost like a sports mentality, about being on one team or the other. That doesn't mean that I don't have my own deeply helf beliefs about things that I think are right or moral or true but - and it's only gotten worse as I've gotten older - I've always had this extreme dislike of these false choices that you're presented with, so in any situation I want to try to be open-minded and look for what you can learn from something. Even in that song, the idea of being an unbeliever can mean almost anything because everybody is an unbeliever to somebody else. It doesn't matter how fervently you believe in your faith, there's always going to be another faith that calls you an unbeliever. In any sort of multicultural society, it's something that people have to grapple with and figure out."
I think the song is saying that no matter what you believe, you're going to die as an unbeliever in something. For example, I'm a Christian and when I die, I'll be known as an unbeliever to my Muslim friends. I forget where I read the interview, but Ezra said something to the effect that the song is all about how there's so many different divisive groups and how he'd like to see a little unity. It's not necessarily religious, but it's definitely got religious influences with verses like, "If I'm born again, the world will disagree." Christians often say that they are not "of this world" and the world would obviously disagree. It's one of my favorite songs and if anyone can find that interview I'm talking about, it'd be greatly appreciated.
I like this interpretation, but I certainly think it's a religious song (much like most of the new album - see Ya Hey).
I like this interpretation, but I certainly think it's a religious song (much like most of the new album - see Ya Hey).
Grace, warmth, heat, and light - are all metaphors for spiritual support, and spiritual love. If I'm an unbeliever (don't believe in God) or a believer in a different religion (don't believe in the "correct" God), who's gonna save a little grace for me? Will there be an afterlife for me?
Grace, warmth, heat, and light - are all metaphors for spiritual support, and spiritual love. If I'm an unbeliever (don't believe in God) or a believer in a different religion (don't believe in the "correct" God), who's gonna save a little grace for me? Will there be an afterlife for me?
We know the fire (hell) awaits unbelievers, so as an unbeliever, I'm not excited for an afterlife, but should I be? Is this...
We know the fire (hell) awaits unbelievers, so as an unbeliever, I'm not excited for an afterlife, but should I be? Is this the fate that half of the world (folks who believe in God, or folks who believe in a dominant religion like Christianity) has planned for me?
The cool thing is that Ezra wrote one song on the album from a "believers" point of view (Ya Hey) and one from an "unbelievers" point of view. He's come a long way from writing about sleeping on the balcony after class.
I found the interview where Ezra talks about a 'believer' always being an 'unbeliever' of another faith. He also talks about his dislike of false dichotomies being presented when it comes to religion, politics, etc. I think he's trying to highlight the conundrum of finding faith/spirituality in a world where religious beliefs can be polarizing.
I found the interview where Ezra talks about a 'believer' always being an 'unbeliever' of another faith. He also talks about his dislike of false dichotomies being presented when it comes to religion, politics, etc. I think he's trying to highlight the conundrum of finding faith/spirituality in a world where religious beliefs can be polarizing.
I found the interview where Ezra talks about a 'believer' always being an 'unbeliever' of another faith. He also talks about his dislike of false dichotomies being presented when it comes to religion, politics, etc. I think he's trying to highlight the conundrum of finding faith/spirituality in a world where religious beliefs can be polarizing.
I found the interview where Ezra talks about a 'believer' always being an 'unbeliever' of another faith. He also talks about his dislike of false dichotomies being presented when it comes to religion, politics, etc. I think he's trying to highlight the conundrum of finding faith/spirituality in a world where religious beliefs can be polarizing.
Koenig explained the song's meaning to NME: "There's something very powerful about religious imagery," he said, "and I've always been very interested in various religions, whether it was the one I was raised in or ones that I experienced myself. I don't like to...
Koenig explained the song's meaning to NME: "There's something very powerful about religious imagery," he said, "and I've always been very interested in various religions, whether it was the one I was raised in or ones that I experienced myself. I don't like to be dismissive in any way of religion. In some ways I feel very connected to it, some of the imagery in that song, talking about the fire, is something that I find powerful. Something that I started thinking about on the last record (was) how much I can't relate to any ways of thinking that divide the world into two distinct parts," he continued. "Whether that's atheism versus religion or Republican versus Democrat, there's all these false dichotomies in the world that can be very confusing when you're trying to make up your mind about how you feel about a situation. It's almost like a sports mentality, about being on one team or the other. That doesn't mean that I don't have my own deeply helf beliefs about things that I think are right or moral or true but - and it's only gotten worse as I've gotten older - I've always had this extreme dislike of these false choices that you're presented with, so in any situation I want to try to be open-minded and look for what you can learn from something. Even in that song, the idea of being an unbeliever can mean almost anything because everybody is an unbeliever to somebody else. It doesn't matter how fervently you believe in your faith, there's always going to be another faith that calls you an unbeliever. In any sort of multicultural society, it's something that people have to grapple with and figure out."
I'm not sure its the same read but here are some of the writers insight. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=28313
I'm not sure its the same read but here are some of the writers insight. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=28313