Caleb talks about how this song is derived from an old church song from 1893 called "WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER" by James M. Black which references glory through Christ: "When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there"
Caleb has said that if he wasn't a rock star that he would be a Christian preacher. This song refers to his christian faith, attending church and how knowing Jesus will get you where you want to be. The title of the song "radioactive" is a play on the the process by which the nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting radiation. Like a nucleus loses energy, many people these days are losing their energy and faith in Jesus. Given his childhood/upbringing and his Dad being a traveling preacher, it makes a lot of sense.
When the roll is called in heaven, he hopes to see you there.
It's in the water...(water is essential to life, existence itself)
It's in the story (the bible)
It's where you came from (god created you)
-These three lines refers the teachings of Jesus/God that we know through the bible.
The sons and daughters
In all their glory
It's gonna shape them
In Christianity we are all sons and daughters of God. In his glory and teachings so do we have glory. Following Jesus shapes us.
And when they clash
And come together
And start rising
This refers to when we get together (clash/come together) and start rising out of our seats at church to sing and praise. Acquiring faith.
Just drink the water
Where you came from
Where you came from
If you Just drink the water or 'follow the teachings of God' whom where you came from then you will be called on the roll up yonder.
You're the rose
That was called from yonder
Never sold yourself away
if you don't sell yourself away and stay faithful, you will be called up yonder. You never became radioactive or decayed from the teachings of Jesus.
Caleb talks about how this song is derived from an old church song from 1893 called "WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER" by James M. Black which references glory through Christ: "When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there"
Caleb has said that if he wasn't a rock star that he would be a Christian preacher. This song refers to his christian faith, attending church and how knowing Jesus will get you where you want to be. The title of the song "radioactive" is a play on the the process by which the nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting radiation. Like a nucleus loses energy, many people these days are losing their energy and faith in Jesus. Given his childhood/upbringing and his Dad being a traveling preacher, it makes a lot of sense.
When the roll is called in heaven, he hopes to see you there.
It's in the water...(water is essential to life, existence itself) It's in the story (the bible) It's where you came from (god created you)
-These three lines refers the teachings of Jesus/God that we know through the bible.
The sons and daughters In all their glory It's gonna shape them
And when they clash And come together And start rising
Just drink the water Where you came from Where you came from
You're the rose That was called from yonder Never sold yourself away