Jenny Lewis – Born Secular

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I was born secular and inconsolable
I heard that he walked, he walked the earth
God goes where he wants
And who knows where he is not
Not in me

It's the way mothers greet their sons
When it's a moment too late
It's the law of the land
That sometimes the dam just breaks
God works in mysterious ways
And God gives and then he takes
From me

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Lyrics submitted by haydogsup

Track duration: 05:08


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  • 0
    General Comment:When I listen to this song I don't feel like she's sulking over her lack of faith, as much as she's trying to escape organized religion. She was "born secular", but "heard that He walked the earth". To me, thats saying that she's never felt the presence of God, but has heard others talk about it. She doesnt really miss that presence, because you cant miss what you never had.

    "Its the law of the land that sometimes the damn just breaks."

    To me this says this says that bad things happen, but so do good things. Those of the religious world attribute calamities and "blessings" to God, but I think that Jenny is saying that it's all natural.

    When she says that God gives, and takes, from her I think shes saying that the world that we live in is run by religion. We gain the right to religious freedom, but our country is trying to take that freedom away by letting organized religion push government into clearly religious based laws.

    But thats just my opinion.
    Flag joeyflcnon September 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:"The way mothers greet their sons/ when it's a moment too late" To me, this seems like it means crying or grieving; A moment too late meaning that their son is dead, so the person is mourning. The fact that the word used is "son," rather than daughter or something more ambiguous leads me to believe that maybe this is a reference to war?

    Flag SeaThingChildon December 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The whole record has religious undertones--the watson twins are after all gospel singers.

    I think its similar to "so emotional" in that it laments over not learning about god as a child and therefore trying hard to grasp it as an adult... I think she hates the fact that she was born secular, its almost as if god wanted no part of her since the very beginning.
    Flag XianSnakeon December 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is so brave to me because usually artists leave religion alone. It's kind of a touchy subject. But I love how she says "Who knows where he is not? Not in me" It reminds me of a line on the more adventurous album: "The absence of God will bring you comfort baby." It's like she's afraid to face God, maybe afraid of being judged by him, and there's comfort in thinking he doesn't exist. But I definately agree with linnaeuslurie.
    Flag brisweet91on July 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Stunning.
    Flag missmeon May 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wow. I always liked this album, but I don't think I'd ever really fully listened to it fully through. Now I think it is beyond amazing.
    Flag Ethan_Mon March 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the song is a bit more about loss then religion. ABsence, not god. It's hard to explain. It's like all she does is think "Why?" And the only answer she could think of that is even close to possible, is blame god, the thing that is already to late, and is already to corrupt for her to believe whole heartedly, especially because if this is true, all he's done is hurt her. No one wants to beleive in cruelty to that degree.
    Flag thembraincellson September 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think she is saying that she was born outside the realm of religion, and that she isn't a part of that world. who knows where he is not, not in her--she is like a god-free zone. but at the same time, she's unable to escape the workings of god, since he is everywhere else.
    Flag eutheriaon May 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the theme of the entire album is Honesty.

    In this song, she's just being honest with her insecurities about her belief in God and just going through her thoughts about her life in relation to God.

    At some point, everybody, whether a believer or not, goes through this and either reaches a conclusion or doesn't. From the shortness of the poem, it seems she can't reach a conclusion about whether He is present in her life and just lets the music continue with her possibly running her thoughts in her head whether than singing them out loud.

    Or, she is explaining how she has a love-hate relationship with God. She feels God exists when she is given great things, but when something bad happens or taken away from her, she feels God is not apart of her. Again, I think it's all about being honest with her thoughts.
    Flag nitsuaon February 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is so touchy. What really gets me is how people sometimes think when they are christains you're not allow to be mad or upset with God or have doubt with him. EVERYONE goes with that.

    "God works in mysterious ways
    And God gives and then he takes
    From me "

    Really gets me.. just because you love god and sometimes, you just don't know what to do anymore when things get hard. So she feels frustrated. very understanding and moving song. Love it.
    Flag hannahisloveon July 07, 2007   Link

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