This song stands out to me as a battle between somebody and his sinful desires. He knows that the sinful side of him is bad, yet he has trouble fully letting go.
In the first verse, he recognizes that there are two separate entities; "one part flesh and the other a phantom", that are inside of him, pushing him in opposite directions. He goes on to try and force the darker side out of him, but realizes that both sides are a part of him, and he cannot just get rid of his darkness: "I am born of the shadow inside you and I have lived in your heart and with it I've become quite accustomed.
Furthermore, this person recognizes that he is the reason that this darkness is alive in him; in the third verse, he knew that "It was a coward's decision when [he] offered [it] sanctuary" He knew that he shouldn't have given in to his sinful desires, yet he still did and it sent his life into a spiral.
The chorus is a direct battle between the two parts inside of him; the words "choose your blade' highlights this as though he has to choose which weapon he will fight with - with path he will follow. The 'phantom' desires nothing but death for him: "Go where the dead go, tu estas muerto (you are dead)". The demons inside of him try to convince him that he is worthless; that he is already dead. The 'flesh', though, is not ready to give up just yet. "I won't be held as a prisoner of shame" - he will not allow the shame that his sin has brought him drag him down. He is tired of the lies that the demons inside of him have been telling him; the lies that he has been telling himself. The chorus (and the song itself) ends with the words, "Get thee behind me, you shall not bind me". The subject of this song knows that if he is to get his life back on track, he must completely forsake his sinful side; he must deny the demons from hindering his life.
This song actually reminds me of a bit of a darker twist on MercyMe's song, "So Long Self". That song discusses the freedom of one once he has forsaken himself to God. House of Heroes' "Choose Your Blade" takes it from the time before the freedom. The person is still lost, and is having difficulty giving up his desires. He must still choose his blade; can he say so long to himself?
This song stands out to me as a battle between somebody and his sinful desires. He knows that the sinful side of him is bad, yet he has trouble fully letting go.
In the first verse, he recognizes that there are two separate entities; "one part flesh and the other a phantom", that are inside of him, pushing him in opposite directions. He goes on to try and force the darker side out of him, but realizes that both sides are a part of him, and he cannot just get rid of his darkness: "I am born of the shadow inside you and I have lived in your heart and with it I've become quite accustomed.
Furthermore, this person recognizes that he is the reason that this darkness is alive in him; in the third verse, he knew that "It was a coward's decision when [he] offered [it] sanctuary" He knew that he shouldn't have given in to his sinful desires, yet he still did and it sent his life into a spiral.
The chorus is a direct battle between the two parts inside of him; the words "choose your blade' highlights this as though he has to choose which weapon he will fight with - with path he will follow. The 'phantom' desires nothing but death for him: "Go where the dead go, tu estas muerto (you are dead)". The demons inside of him try to convince him that he is worthless; that he is already dead. The 'flesh', though, is not ready to give up just yet. "I won't be held as a prisoner of shame" - he will not allow the shame that his sin has brought him drag him down. He is tired of the lies that the demons inside of him have been telling him; the lies that he has been telling himself. The chorus (and the song itself) ends with the words, "Get thee behind me, you shall not bind me". The subject of this song knows that if he is to get his life back on track, he must completely forsake his sinful side; he must deny the demons from hindering his life.
This song actually reminds me of a bit of a darker twist on MercyMe's song, "So Long Self". That song discusses the freedom of one once he has forsaken himself to God. House of Heroes' "Choose Your Blade" takes it from the time before the freedom. The person is still lost, and is having difficulty giving up his desires. He must still choose his blade; can he say so long to himself?