This song to me is a direct relation to PTSD, Mainly directed at those who have served in the military during times of war.
Wrong side of heaven is walking in sin, or having to due something you are morally opposed to
Righteous side of Hell is a common phrase for justifying your actions, Killing in the name of country, freedom, self defense
God Saying "She" is ashamed is similar to seeing your mother's approval, The one typically shown as nurturing, "sounding just like me" is showing the focus inward or losing sight of someone you loved, In memories the first thing you forget is the sound of someone's voic, replacing it with your own.
Devil saying "He" is not to blame is similar to that of the Father figure telling you that you made your own mess and cannot blame him, The more hands off figure, normally to blame for children (The human Race) for escalation of bad behavior, in this case what ever they feel to be morally ambiguous. "He looked a lot like me" is similar to growing up and seeing your self look more and more like your father, seeing your self making the same choices he did, justifying them the same way.
"I'm not defending
Downward descending
Falling further and further away
Getting closer every day"
Saying they have no way to defend what they have done, and the soul tearing experience of trying to cope with it, day after day reliving every emotion.
"I'm getting closer every day
To the end, to the end, the end of the end
I'm getting closer every day"
Most people suffering from PTSD are constantly pleading with themselves to die, just waiting for that day where they cannot no longer feel the pain and can atone/ pay for everything they have done, and finally see if they're cause was just.
"Arms wide open
I stand alone
I'm no hero
And I'm not made of stone
Right or wrong
I can hardly tell"
To me a metaphor for begging on your knees for God to come and show is what you've been though was worth it, No mater how much people call you a hero those suffering from PTSD are far from made of stone, they've been permeated with doubt, grief, nightmare, pain... and questioning again whether or not they're justified.
My opinion is based on growing up in a military family and watching my uncle return with PTSD from desert storm, Watching the way my step father changed after returning from Kuwait just after 9/11, my friends who were able to enlist that were lucky enough to return home, some with PTSD and many of those who returned, returned to only end up taking their own lives due to all the horrors they had seen and committed themselves, and my own personal turmoil coping with
This song to me is a direct relation to PTSD, Mainly directed at those who have served in the military during times of war. Wrong side of heaven is walking in sin, or having to due something you are morally opposed to Righteous side of Hell is a common phrase for justifying your actions, Killing in the name of country, freedom, self defense
God Saying "She" is ashamed is similar to seeing your mother's approval, The one typically shown as nurturing, "sounding just like me" is showing the focus inward or losing sight of someone you loved, In memories the first thing you forget is the sound of someone's voic, replacing it with your own. Devil saying "He" is not to blame is similar to that of the Father figure telling you that you made your own mess and cannot blame him, The more hands off figure, normally to blame for children (The human Race) for escalation of bad behavior, in this case what ever they feel to be morally ambiguous. "He looked a lot like me" is similar to growing up and seeing your self look more and more like your father, seeing your self making the same choices he did, justifying them the same way.
"I'm not defending Downward descending Falling further and further away Getting closer every day"
Saying they have no way to defend what they have done, and the soul tearing experience of trying to cope with it, day after day reliving every emotion.
"I'm getting closer every day To the end, to the end, the end of the end I'm getting closer every day" Most people suffering from PTSD are constantly pleading with themselves to die, just waiting for that day where they cannot no longer feel the pain and can atone/ pay for everything they have done, and finally see if they're cause was just.
"Arms wide open I stand alone I'm no hero And I'm not made of stone Right or wrong I can hardly tell" To me a metaphor for begging on your knees for God to come and show is what you've been though was worth it, No mater how much people call you a hero those suffering from PTSD are far from made of stone, they've been permeated with doubt, grief, nightmare, pain... and questioning again whether or not they're justified.
My opinion is based on growing up in a military family and watching my uncle return with PTSD from desert storm, Watching the way my step father changed after returning from Kuwait just after 9/11, my friends who were able to enlist that were lucky enough to return home, some with PTSD and many of those who returned, returned to only end up taking their own lives due to all the horrors they had seen and committed themselves, and my own personal turmoil coping with