This album, as stated by fun., is about questioning yourself and, in the case of this song, society.
Yes, in the second verse, it does question and criticize religion.
Let's take it line by line.
"I happen to stumble upon a chapel last night
And I can’t help but back up when I think of what happens inside"
This mentions a story of walking past (or going to) a chapel, and thinking about all of the discrimination going on inside of it. There are other clues in the song (that I will mention) that seem to push that this song is about the LGBT community, and Nate criticizes religion for their discrimination of them.
"I got friends locked in boxes
That's no way to live"
This is one of those hints toward the song being about the LGBT community. This could be a reference about being afraid to come out due to the discrimination gays face, or to the fact that they are denied so many rights in America that no human should live without, and it's "no way to live" to be denied them.
"What you're callin' a sin isn't up to them."
This, to me, is the largest reference to homosexuality. For those of you who don't know, sexuality is not a choice. It comes from birth and the balance of hormones within you. You can't pray it away, you can't change it, it's who you are. There's no denying that. And, yet, in Christianity, homosexual thoughts or actions are thought of as sins, and, in Leviticus 20:13, it says to kill or cast out (depending on the version you have) homosexuals. Yet, it's not up to them to be gay, and Christians say they are going to Hell for loving who they love.
'After all, I thought we were all your children"
This mentions the fact that it says that God says that everyone is his child, yet, at the same time, according to the bible he hates and discriminates gays (Leviticus 20:13, as I mentioned earlier, is the most abrupt reference to this, but there are other messages against gays throughout the bible). It comments on how contradictory this is.
"But I will die for my own sins — thanks a lot."
This is a sarcastic "I don't need you" statement. It basically says "no thanks, Jesus, I don't need you to die for me." This is where it becomes absolutely clear that he is criticizing Christianity since Jesus "died for our sins".
"We’ll rise up ourselves — thanks for nothing at all."
This, to me, is a reference to when Jesus was resurrected. I believe that it references that it's terrible living without rights in a world of discrimination, and that, without Jesus (there's another little sarcastic "I don't need you" thing in here) the LGBT community will stand up and take their rights, practically coming from a death-like state that's "no way to live" to a happy life.
The reprise, to me, confused me a bit, but then I realized what it was conveying.
"Maybe I should learn to shut my mouth."
This obviously states that he is now possibly feeling bad or regretting what he had previously said, and is thinking that he shouldn't say stuff like this. He thinks he doesn't have a place to criticize.
"I am over twenty-five and I can’t make a name for myself
Some nights I break down and cry"
This is a self-criticism of sorts; it's saying, that he's not good enough. It's a sad little section to me, because it's just like, "yeah, I'm insecure, too."
"I’m lucky that my father’s still alive
He’s been fighting all his life."
He's listing some of the struggles of his life, such as the one before this, and the fact that his father has health issues and has been fighting for a very long time.
"And if this is all I’ve ever known, then may his soul live on forever in my song"
This, to me, is thinking that he's been experiencing hell in his life with his unhealthy father and the struggles with his career. Then, he says that he wants his father's soul to be endless, and that it's in this song, so add a little light in this terrible world.
The whole reprise is a self-criticism.
Now for the chorus.
"I put one foot in front of the other one."
Despite how terrible this world it, I'm going to keep continuing on, and no one is going to push me down. I'm never going to fall, and I'm going to carry on no matter what.
"I don’t need a new love or a new life — just a better place to die."
This is another reference to homosexuality. It's saying that he can love who he wants, and he doesn't have to change his lifestyle or anything. It says that love is love and homosexuals shouldn't be forced to change. Then, it says that he needs "a better place to die." I believe this is reference to how terrible society is, and that he wants it to change before he dies.
As for the rest, I'm not sure.
Hope this helped and sorry if I offended anyone.
This album, as stated by fun., is about questioning yourself and, in the case of this song, society.
Yes, in the second verse, it does question and criticize religion. Let's take it line by line.
"I happen to stumble upon a chapel last night And I can’t help but back up when I think of what happens inside" This mentions a story of walking past (or going to) a chapel, and thinking about all of the discrimination going on inside of it. There are other clues in the song (that I will mention) that seem to push that this song is about the LGBT community, and Nate criticizes religion for their discrimination of them.
"I got friends locked in boxes That's no way to live" This is one of those hints toward the song being about the LGBT community. This could be a reference about being afraid to come out due to the discrimination gays face, or to the fact that they are denied so many rights in America that no human should live without, and it's "no way to live" to be denied them.
"What you're callin' a sin isn't up to them." This, to me, is the largest reference to homosexuality. For those of you who don't know, sexuality is not a choice. It comes from birth and the balance of hormones within you. You can't pray it away, you can't change it, it's who you are. There's no denying that. And, yet, in Christianity, homosexual thoughts or actions are thought of as sins, and, in Leviticus 20:13, it says to kill or cast out (depending on the version you have) homosexuals. Yet, it's not up to them to be gay, and Christians say they are going to Hell for loving who they love.
'After all, I thought we were all your children" This mentions the fact that it says that God says that everyone is his child, yet, at the same time, according to the bible he hates and discriminates gays (Leviticus 20:13, as I mentioned earlier, is the most abrupt reference to this, but there are other messages against gays throughout the bible). It comments on how contradictory this is.
"But I will die for my own sins — thanks a lot." This is a sarcastic "I don't need you" statement. It basically says "no thanks, Jesus, I don't need you to die for me." This is where it becomes absolutely clear that he is criticizing Christianity since Jesus "died for our sins".
"We’ll rise up ourselves — thanks for nothing at all." This, to me, is a reference to when Jesus was resurrected. I believe that it references that it's terrible living without rights in a world of discrimination, and that, without Jesus (there's another little sarcastic "I don't need you" thing in here) the LGBT community will stand up and take their rights, practically coming from a death-like state that's "no way to live" to a happy life.
The reprise, to me, confused me a bit, but then I realized what it was conveying. "Maybe I should learn to shut my mouth." This obviously states that he is now possibly feeling bad or regretting what he had previously said, and is thinking that he shouldn't say stuff like this. He thinks he doesn't have a place to criticize.
"I am over twenty-five and I can’t make a name for myself Some nights I break down and cry" This is a self-criticism of sorts; it's saying, that he's not good enough. It's a sad little section to me, because it's just like, "yeah, I'm insecure, too."
"I’m lucky that my father’s still alive He’s been fighting all his life." He's listing some of the struggles of his life, such as the one before this, and the fact that his father has health issues and has been fighting for a very long time.
"And if this is all I’ve ever known, then may his soul live on forever in my song" This, to me, is thinking that he's been experiencing hell in his life with his unhealthy father and the struggles with his career. Then, he says that he wants his father's soul to be endless, and that it's in this song, so add a little light in this terrible world.
The whole reprise is a self-criticism.
Now for the chorus. "I put one foot in front of the other one." Despite how terrible this world it, I'm going to keep continuing on, and no one is going to push me down. I'm never going to fall, and I'm going to carry on no matter what.
"I don’t need a new love or a new life — just a better place to die." This is another reference to homosexuality. It's saying that he can love who he wants, and he doesn't have to change his lifestyle or anything. It says that love is love and homosexuals shouldn't be forced to change. Then, it says that he needs "a better place to die." I believe this is reference to how terrible society is, and that he wants it to change before he dies.
As for the rest, I'm not sure. Hope this helped and sorry if I offended anyone.