If I run uphill, I'm out of breath
If I spend all my money, I've got no money left
If I place all my chips on only one bet, I'm all in
And it's a surefire bet I'm going to die
So I'm taking up praying on Sunday nights
And it's not that I believe in your all might
But I might as well
As insurance or bail
Because institution's like a big bright light
And it blinds you into fear and consuming and fight
And you've been in the desert underneath the charging sky
It's just you and God
But what if God's not there?
But his name is on your dollar bill
Which just became cab fare
For the evangelists, the communists, the lefts, and the rights
And the hypocrites and the jesuits and the blacks and the whites
In the belly of the beast in the Atlanta streets
Or up in Laurel Canyon, the verge of Middle East
Still they're dying on the dark continent
It's been happening long enough to mention it
Have I mentioned my parents are getting back together again?
It's been twenty-five years
Of spreading infection
Somehow we're not affected
So my mom, she brushes her hair
And my dad starts growing Bob Dylan's beard
And I share with my friends a couple of beers
In the Atlanta streets
In the belly of the beast



Lyrics submitted by y plus white girl

Track duration: 02:57


The Charging Sky song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's

    And it blinds you into fear and consuming and fightin'
    Even in the desert underneath the charging sky

    Instead of

    And it blinds you into fear and consuming and fight
    And you've been in the desert underneath the charging sky
    Flag RabbitFurCoaton June 27, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love how she describes her mom's lame attempt at putting herself together: "so my mom, she brushes her hair..."
    Flag acidtongue13on April 12, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think when she says "It's not that I believe in your all might" she's talking to God. Like maybe she doesn't necessarily believe he's almighty, but just in case He is, she's going to pray.
    Flag brisweet91on July 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The last Atlanta should be Orlando streets
    Flag wethairon March 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I definitely agree with moreadventurous, I can't claim it to be my first thought when I heard the song by I did think that she was referring to Africa as the "dark continent"

    "But what if God's not there?
    But his name is on your dollar bill
    Which just became cab fare
    For the evangelists, the communists, the lefts, and the rights
    And the hypocrites and the jesuits and the blacks and the whites"

    I think Jenny Lewis as a sense of humor about all of these "hypocrites" who aren't really doing ANYTHING but disagreeing with each other, i.e. "it's been 25 years of spreading infection, somehow we're not affected"
    Flag epedra17on July 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i might be completely off, but does anyone else think she's referencing sudan at some point?

    "Still they're dying on the dark continent
    It's been happening long enough to mention it
    Have I mentioned my parents are getting back together again?
    It's been twenty-five years
    Of spreading infection
    Somehow we're not affected"

    like showing how americans completely disregard the problems going on in other parts of the world. these things may come up in passing conversation but "somehow we're not affected."

    i don't know.
    i could be wrong.
    Flag moreadventurous__on May 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it is about feeling secured about life even if it is false security because people are scared of the future. Whether it be a fear of going to Hell even if you don't believe in it, or fear of loneliness when she talks about her parents getting back together. She knows her parents getting back together is a bad idea, but she won't do anything about it and rather wants to feel secure and happy by drinking beer with friends to forget about it. I don't know what the middle part means though...
    Flag nitsuaon February 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST! indeed.
    THE SYSTEM!
    capitalism, faith.. YADDA YADDA.

    good lyrics.
    Flag sanscosmon November 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yeah, I agree with ratanx - we should get it amended.

    Its like faith is there to save you but discarded and spent when you don't need it.
    Flag toolejon August 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:also, I'm pretty sure the line is "institution's like a big bright light" not lie.
    Flag ratanxon May 13, 2007   Link

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