I think its a song about people using god to justify there actions, trying to convince people that what they do is gods way so its ok when anyone with a brain cell knows differently
It's definitely about the role religion has played in the war we find ourselves in today, how religious truths -- even beautiful ones -- have been bent and twisted to serve an evil agenda.
Americans believe God is on their side. Islamists believe by killing infidels, they get a free pass to heaven.
Lots of good stuff in the verses.
I really, really like how the chorus is arranged.
The first time I heard it, going by how the words are printed in the liner notes, it was hard to understand.
"With the living let
What is living love" -- what the hell does that mean? they are just sentence fragments. It took me a day or two to figure out it should be written:
"Do come down with the living
Let what is living love"
Makes perfect sense.
I also like how this song kind of toggles back and forth between a desperate prayer and a challenge. Some of the time he's asking God for help ... Please come down here and fix this mess people are making in your name. Straighten them out.
And sometimes he's challenging God. If you really exist you'll do something about these people killing in your name.
There's a big difference between "I'm calling out" and "I'm calling you out." -- and this song does both.
In conclusion, I think this is one of ed's best jobs ever, as far as lyrics go.
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
Ed is not a religious man. The song is sarcastic. Ed is asking God "If you exist, why is the world so fucked up?"
I don't think it's totally sarcastic. I think it is also earnest. I think he really IS calling out to God for help, maybe even in desperation. I also think he gets frustrated, and does challenge God.
but I don't think the whole song is sarcastic.
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
Did anyone think of Frederich Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra the first time they heard this song?
drivingrl: "Will I ever get to meet Gwen Stefani?"
kevinbeetle: "Yes. When her career washes up and her and Gavin move to Galveston, you will meet her at Hot Topic shopping for a Japanese cheerleader outfit.
I think pretty much everyone here is right in one way or another. I dont think he is asking God for an answer though. I see it more as saying "What WOULD each persons God (be it Catholic or Muslim or whatever) say about the way they are killing each other in his name.
The line I like best is
Walk the bridges
before you burn them down!
In other words, learn what other religions, beliefs, people, traditions are all about, and actually live in someone else's shoes before you start critisizing or damning them to hell.
I do think the marker represents either the bible or other religious beliefs...or the feelings of those beliefs (i.e. love and forgiveness). The sand represents actual elements or physical things that have made us forget about all those other feelings and what is really important in life.
Ed is not a religious man. The song is sarcastic. Ed is asking God "If you exist, why is the world so fucked up?"
You don't have to be "religious" to be spiritual, and there are SO many songs that touch on spirituality and his thoughts about it. Saying he's not religious is pointless imho.
Good interpretations of the song. I love the lyrics in this song; it's one of my favorites on this album. I especially love "walking tightrope high, over moral ground". It seems to be talking about how this current administration keeps claiming to be Christian, and yet they're killing in God's name, as well as the other side ("Now you've got both sides killing in God's name"). I think it's talking about hypocrisy and morality spinning out of control.
"God, what do you say?" I find it interesting that this line is repeated, and it seems like it's repeated with more intensity each time, as if he's getting more and more frustrated every time he sings it. Whether or not Ed believes in God, I think he's calling out for someone to explain all of this and someone to put a stop to all of this madness. The "I'm calling out...calling you out" part is so emotional and powerful.
That's my take on it, anyway.
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i've been a mega froot loop for this song all week. love the 'there's a sickness' part of it, ed's voice sounds awesome. live versions of this tune kick ass as well
Comments
Americans believe God is on their side. Islamists believe by killing infidels, they get a free pass to heaven.
Lots of good stuff in the verses.
I really, really like how the chorus is arranged.
The first time I heard it, going by how the words are printed in the liner notes, it was hard to understand.
"With the living let
What is living love" -- what the hell does that mean? they are just sentence fragments. It took me a day or two to figure out it should be written:
"Do come down with the living
Let what is living love"
Makes perfect sense.
I also like how this song kind of toggles back and forth between a desperate prayer and a challenge. Some of the time he's asking God for help ... Please come down here and fix this mess people are making in your name. Straighten them out.
And sometimes he's challenging God. If you really exist you'll do something about these people killing in your name.
There's a big difference between "I'm calling out" and "I'm calling you out." -- and this song does both.
In conclusion, I think this is one of ed's best jobs ever, as far as lyrics go.
for the least they could possibly do
I don't think it's totally sarcastic. I think it is also earnest. I think he really IS calling out to God for help, maybe even in desperation. I also think he gets frustrated, and does challenge God.
but I don't think the whole song is sarcastic.
for the least they could possibly do
kevinbeetle: "Yes. When her career washes up and her and Gavin move to Galveston, you will meet her at Hot Topic shopping for a Japanese cheerleader outfit.
Next!"
The line I like best is
Walk the bridges
before you burn them down!
In other words, learn what other religions, beliefs, people, traditions are all about, and actually live in someone else's shoes before you start critisizing or damning them to hell.
I do think the marker represents either the bible or other religious beliefs...or the feelings of those beliefs (i.e. love and forgiveness). The sand represents actual elements or physical things that have made us forget about all those other feelings and what is really important in life.
You don't have to be "religious" to be spiritual, and there are SO many songs that touch on spirituality and his thoughts about it. Saying he's not religious is pointless imho.
"God, what do you say?" I find it interesting that this line is repeated, and it seems like it's repeated with more intensity each time, as if he's getting more and more frustrated every time he sings it. Whether or not Ed believes in God, I think he's calling out for someone to explain all of this and someone to put a stop to all of this madness. The "I'm calling out...calling you out" part is so emotional and powerful.
That's my take on it, anyway.