Wealth issues abound throughout 'Hats Off to the Bull.' Here in 'Arise,' we see Pete's Catholic (!) approach to it.
The key is in the following lyrics:
"And reach to other worlds
Right through the needle's eye
Come take your first look inside"
Taken alone, "reach to other worlds" might just mean creativity or new political structures or whatever. The following verse is critical: "Right through the needle's eye." A subtle (eh, its subtlety is debatable) Biblical reference:
"Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:24, Jerusalem Bible)
So, 'Arise' says something like the following: You can behold Heaven, the possibilities of creativity, love, and action, and the escape from death and finality ("Our fate is all we know [Rising up into another world] / A fate we would all change [Rising up anew]"), if you would just relinquish your excess wealth and worldly satisfaction. All you have to do is turn away, then you may get your "first look inside." It's up to you whether you "fail or rise." Of course, you might choose to fail, and if so, only one short sentence will be delivered on you: "This one's done."
Wealth issues abound throughout 'Hats Off to the Bull.' Here in 'Arise,' we see Pete's Catholic (!) approach to it.
The key is in the following lyrics:
"And reach to other worlds Right through the needle's eye Come take your first look inside"
Taken alone, "reach to other worlds" might just mean creativity or new political structures or whatever. The following verse is critical: "Right through the needle's eye." A subtle (eh, its subtlety is debatable) Biblical reference:
"Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:24, Jerusalem Bible)
So, 'Arise' says something like the following: You can behold Heaven, the possibilities of creativity, love, and action, and the escape from death and finality ("Our fate is all we know [Rising up into another world] / A fate we would all change [Rising up anew]"), if you would just relinquish your excess wealth and worldly satisfaction. All you have to do is turn away, then you may get your "first look inside." It's up to you whether you "fail or rise." Of course, you might choose to fail, and if so, only one short sentence will be delivered on you: "This one's done."