I Will Wait

I personally believe this album is a Spiritual Journey, and "I Will Wait" as the first release frames the rest of the albums meaning... For starters, both albums are heavily influenced by his being raised in the church since his parents were church leaders. That said, I think he had a falling out with the church, but never forgot his roots and developed a more spiritual relationship with God. The first albums seems to sum up a litany of failed relationships (not sure if they are his own or of those around him) and lamenting over them, and this album seems to be more about the process of healing the damage and turning back to your roots for guidance like a "12 Step Program". That said in "I Will Wait" he's apparently re-established a connection with God, and is saying no "I will wait for you" as in 'This has got to stop and I'm not rushing to my death to be saved.' Its subtle, I know, but I think its there.

"Well I came home like a stone And I fell heavy into your arms"

Death comes suddenly like a stone on the water, Heaven his final home, and falls into the Lord's welcoming arms.

"These days of dust, which we've known Will blow away with this new sun"

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust is the allusion.

"And I'll kneel down, wait for now And I'll kneel down know my ground"

Knell down before God awaiting judgement to know where he stands.

"And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you"

He's not rushing to be there, probably out of fear of finding out what that judgement will be.

"So break my step, and relent Well you forgave, and I won't forget"

Persevere through the tough times knowing and never forgetting his roots that the Lord died to forgive his sins. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

"Know what we've seen and him with less Now in some way shake the excess"

This was a tough line to interpret, but I think he's talking about shaking the excesses of life, at least uncomplicated it. Or as I like to say "Keep it simple stupid".

"But I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you"

Still waiting for judgement like he knows he'll be waiting a while in purgatory.

"Now I'll be bold as well as strong And use my head alongside my heart"

Ok this line is came off a little odd to me, but again he's talking about persevering through the low points in life and finding a balance between thinking and feeling, Logic and Emotion. However, when singing the song, "And use my head alongside my soul" seems to come out more naturally. In fact, his voice seems to unnaturally waiver on "Heart" in the album version, but by the time they recorded the Live Concert video, its become more natural. Now, if I'm right that this was a word substitution, I think he did this himself to make the song less Religious to his following, more Spiritual, and Non-Secular.

"So tame my flesh and fix my eyes A tethered mind freed from the lies"

Talking about being free from sins of flesh, freed from the lies throughout the world, its people and its religions, and being allowed to finally see "The Real Truth" for himself through God's eyes.

"But I'll kneel down, wait for now I'll kneel down know my ground

Raise my hands, paint my spirit gold Bow my head, keep my heart slow"

When his time comes, he'll wait for judgement hoping to be found righteous enough to enter heaven and that he can raise his hands in praise to find his spirit is pure again, humbled to bow his head before God.

"'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you"

Until that day comes he'll continue to wait and try to right the wrongs in his life to become a better person before that time arrives.