“Do believe in glory but please believe in fact, if you give your soul to heaven, you won’t get it back…”
Lynott came from a Catholic Irish upbringing, meaning religion was a pretty overarching theme surrounding his childhood. Throughout the song, he’s speaking to the figure of God - except for the chorus, where he addresses the listener directly. Interestingly, the last chorus, this message is overshadowed by his final desperate prayers to ask God to listen to him.
His belief is conflicted. He wants to believe in God, and ultimately can’t really stop himself from doing so, even though his “rational” mind is aware that there is no God looking out for him (“Just let me know if you’re really there…”).
He continually warns the listener of the dangers of religion - saying that although there’s nothing wrong with being religious, devoting your life to a figure who may not even answer or assist you, can ruin your perception of life and the role of your own power within it.
“Do believe in glory but please believe in fact, if you give your soul to heaven, you won’t get it back…”
Lynott came from a Catholic Irish upbringing, meaning religion was a pretty overarching theme surrounding his childhood. Throughout the song, he’s speaking to the figure of God - except for the chorus, where he addresses the listener directly. Interestingly, the last chorus, this message is overshadowed by his final desperate prayers to ask God to listen to him.
His belief is conflicted. He wants to believe in God, and ultimately can’t really stop himself from doing so, even though his “rational” mind is aware that there is no God looking out for him (“Just let me know if you’re really there…”).
He continually warns the listener of the dangers of religion - saying that although there’s nothing wrong with being religious, devoting your life to a figure who may not even answer or assist you, can ruin your perception of life and the role of your own power within it.