the song is about having glimpses of ultimate truth through the drudgery of every day life. The song begins with the narrator almost in pain- chanting the mantra which means "Sacred devotion to the lotus flower sutra," lamenting that she can't attain the empty state of mind sought in eastern religions like Buddhism (forgive me if mischaracterize Buddhism...I am from New Jersey).
Her mind is full of illusions. Inability to see truth is like being a dog on a chain with no hope. I imagine Chrissy Hynde the writer is recounting her own spiritual journey, exploring various religious traditions on her quest for meaning. When she talks about "Every drop that runs through the veins" i think she is talking about herself. She is one small person passing through the cosmos, but she knows she will one day return to the "heart" which I think of as God/Allah/Yahweh/Govinda/Krishna/the Logos/oneness with the Tao, etc.
If you look at simple everyday things with an open mind, you can see Govinda even in the birds and trees, which is analagous to the Christian notion of seeing Christ in the hungry, poor, naked, outsider, sick, and prisoners of our world. She mirrors the journey of the counter-culture- seeking out enlightenment in non-western traditions, skeptical of dogmatic Christianity, but is still in awe of Jesus, the god who became a "living man"just like us, yet lived a life of virtue.
the song is about having glimpses of ultimate truth through the drudgery of every day life. The song begins with the narrator almost in pain- chanting the mantra which means "Sacred devotion to the lotus flower sutra," lamenting that she can't attain the empty state of mind sought in eastern religions like Buddhism (forgive me if mischaracterize Buddhism...I am from New Jersey).
Her mind is full of illusions. Inability to see truth is like being a dog on a chain with no hope. I imagine Chrissy Hynde the writer is recounting her own spiritual journey, exploring various religious traditions on her quest for meaning. When she talks about "Every drop that runs through the veins" i think she is talking about herself. She is one small person passing through the cosmos, but she knows she will one day return to the "heart" which I think of as God/Allah/Yahweh/Govinda/Krishna/the Logos/oneness with the Tao, etc.
If you look at simple everyday things with an open mind, you can see Govinda even in the birds and trees, which is analagous to the Christian notion of seeing Christ in the hungry, poor, naked, outsider, sick, and prisoners of our world. She mirrors the journey of the counter-culture- seeking out enlightenment in non-western traditions, skeptical of dogmatic Christianity, but is still in awe of Jesus, the god who became a "living man"just like us, yet lived a life of virtue.
Great, great song.
Also, if you know who "hoffa" refers to tell us
@FrogTrain I like your interpretation a lot.
@FrogTrain I like your interpretation a lot.