C.S. Lewis Song Lyrics
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
Then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared
Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me
Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, he's coming
The first verse is a close paraphrase of a C.S. Lewis quote from Mere Christianity: "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." This is the whole premise of the song, that we are not made for this world so we will hope and wait for the day of the Lord, which we are at the dawn of.
The reason this song is called "CS Lewis song", is because of its very first two lines, which are a paraphrase of CS Lewis's catchphrase: "If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world." But the meaning behind this very catchphrase is, unfortunately, much deeper. And when I say "deeper", I mean in a very sinister but real sense.
Brooke Ligertwood's lyrics, particularly in the refrain, talk about an unspecified "mercy" that "comes with the morning", that will "speak to" the singer "in the light of the dawn". Very reminiscent of the worlds that fellow great minds and singer-songwriters John Lennon and Michael Jackson wrote about, in "Imagine" and "Heal the world" respectively. Don't we all desire such an idealistic world? But what exactly is this unspecified "mercy", that could claim to fulfill all our idealistic desires without being all but a scam as we know it today? Can it even exist?
Brooke then sings, "Am I lost or just less-found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way? / Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?" Now this is where the sinister part kicks in. Looking at the context, from recognizing that we all have desires so idealistic that this world might well never be able to provide, and recognizing our own "light and momentary" mortal nature, to dreaming of a "mercy" that will create that ideal world that we've all dreamed of, which will "speak to" us "in the light of the dawn", and meanwhile we wait for this "hope" to come - we all have hopes, what is it we are hoping for? It varies from person to person - and now, we see Brooke questioning her own status of how "lost" or "found" she is, as far as finding the right "way" for herself is concerned; and then wondering if it is just her "soul" stirring within her wanting to "break free" - sounds like the soul wanting to leave the body, doesn't it? But how does the soul depart the body, without death happening first? Question - if all this put together sounds right, is this ideal "mercy" supposed to be the Grim Reaper himself?
Her primary bridge answers that question clearly: "For we, we are not long here / Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it / And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you / Hope is coming for me / Hope, he's coming". These sinister lyrics recognize that sometimes, there are things in this world that are much worse than death. Now don't get me wrong here; I am not an advocate for suicide in any way. What I'm trying to say here is that Brooke is talking about death, in a generic sense, being a sort-of deliverer for us from our sufferings that all of us have to go through. When Brooke croons the lines of the primary bridge, before coming back to the final chorus which she sings a few tones higher, she is pertaining to the three things we all can never get enough of, yet can sometimes also be the cause of heartbreak for some of us: getting a life, finding love, and gaining knowledge ("I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you"). But try as we may, we forget that death is inevitable ("We are not long here / Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it"), and at the end of the day, that unspecified "hope"/"mercy" will come to bring us a world we dreamed of, which will be on the day we die ("Hope, it's coming for me").
My conclusion:
- This song is a metaphor about death.
- The unspecified "hope"/"mercy" is likely Death itself.
- The lyrics speak about Death coming to bring us into a dreams-come-true world.
I hope this makes sense!
[Edit: Typos]
I love love love this song. I think the meaning is kind of obvious, but can be taken many ways, depending on what you want it to mean. :]
Life is too short to live for our desires of the flesh. Life would be so much easier to be of this world, but our soul desires more. Life may be hard right now, but the dawn is approaching. With the light hope is coming. He (Jesus Christ) is coming to bring us hope.
I am not religious, but this song is really awesome...
It has nothing to do with religion, but a relationship with your Maker. It's awesome you still enjoy it. : ]
It has nothing to do with religion, but a relationship with your Maker. It's awesome you still enjoy it. : ]
It is a beautiful song, like Whirr pointed out, you can kind of take it to mean what you what. I love that about Brooke Fraser's songs.
The piano is beautiful, okay the whole song is incredibly beautiful, I know I'm going on a bit but it really is. It makes me want to stand outside at night and stare at the stars and listen to it.
I'm actually not sure how to interpret this song, or why it's called C.S. Lewis Song, but I do know that it's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, seriously.
Like undeniabledreamer said, it makes you want to just go outside and stare at the stars. But personally, I think it's one of those songs that you listen to driving down a long highway, it's got that really haunting melody that fits the mood.
It's basically entirely made up of C.S. Lewis quotes. This song combines my two loves in life, music and awesome quotes.
It's basically entirely made up of C.S. Lewis quotes. This song combines my two loves in life, music and awesome quotes.
And God. Though that should go without saying, I'm still going to say it.
And God. Though that should go without saying, I'm still going to say it.
Great Song, It´s just perfect, the music,lyrics Brooke´s voice, it´s just amazing....
By the way.. Have you guys noticed that Brooke has the same drum sequence in like 3 songs? haha I guess that´s her style..
Hahaha only a drummer would notice that :)
Hahaha only a drummer would notice that :)
Hahaha only a drummer would notice that :)
Hahaha only a drummer would notice that :)
Great Song, It´s just perfect, the music,lyrics Brooke´s voice, it´s just amazing....
By the way.. Have you guys noticed that Brooke has the same drum sequence in like 3 songs? haha I guess that´s her style..
it was the sound and the voice that drew me first.then i heard 'if the flesh that i fight is at best only light and momentary'.. i hear an echo;Switchfoot's Meant to live..AMEN!!