I think this song is about growing up. The verses are from the point of view of a father figure / older person that is trying to help, and the chorus is the point of view of younger, more naive person. The death that Norma Jean writes about shouldn't be taken literally, more as someones downfall.
"do you think the saints are just lying?"
-the wiser person is saying that the values written in the bible are important (you shouldn't steal, be gluttonous, or give in to vices in general).
"just because I understand, doesn't mean I really care"
-I think this line says a lot about todays generation. We see terrible things happen to ourselves and others and just let it happen...It is so easy growing up in a first world country that apathy has become standard and caring about things that should be important is put second to our own, selfish desires.
"falling from the sky, day one. you never learned to fly"
-maybe the younger person just got out of a bad relationship or went to college or was faced with some sort of conflict. Because he never listened to the older person and was only concerned with himself, he never learned to deal with conflicts, and it becomes the downfall of him. You find out the most about yourself when you are at your lowest point or sank "to the bottom of the ocean" as Norma Jean would put it. This is why they write "you will have all of the answers soon my friend".
The song is beautifully written, and I am not religious, but a song like this reminds me why religion can be so wonderful. There are a lot of great lessons that the bible teaches that are applicable to modern life. All of the references to christianity in this song really exemplify this too me.
I think this song is about growing up. The verses are from the point of view of a father figure / older person that is trying to help, and the chorus is the point of view of younger, more naive person. The death that Norma Jean writes about shouldn't be taken literally, more as someones downfall. "do you think the saints are just lying?" -the wiser person is saying that the values written in the bible are important (you shouldn't steal, be gluttonous, or give in to vices in general). "just because I understand, doesn't mean I really care" -I think this line says a lot about todays generation. We see terrible things happen to ourselves and others and just let it happen...It is so easy growing up in a first world country that apathy has become standard and caring about things that should be important is put second to our own, selfish desires. "falling from the sky, day one. you never learned to fly" -maybe the younger person just got out of a bad relationship or went to college or was faced with some sort of conflict. Because he never listened to the older person and was only concerned with himself, he never learned to deal with conflicts, and it becomes the downfall of him. You find out the most about yourself when you are at your lowest point or sank "to the bottom of the ocean" as Norma Jean would put it. This is why they write "you will have all of the answers soon my friend".
The song is beautifully written, and I am not religious, but a song like this reminds me why religion can be so wonderful. There are a lot of great lessons that the bible teaches that are applicable to modern life. All of the references to christianity in this song really exemplify this too me.