I've always thought this song was probably about Neil's early life when homosexual acts were illegal in the UK (and elsewhere). The narrator is confronting the reality that everything he feels and wants is, literally, 'a sin'. He begs for forgiveness for feelings he can do nothing about. The 'father' is very ambiguous and could be God, a parent or a lover, and is probably all three. It's a very subversive yet very moving and profound song.
I've always thought this song was probably about Neil's early life when homosexual acts were illegal in the UK (and elsewhere). The narrator is confronting the reality that everything he feels and wants is, literally, 'a sin'. He begs for forgiveness for feelings he can do nothing about. The 'father' is very ambiguous and could be God, a parent or a lover, and is probably all three. It's a very subversive yet very moving and profound song.