Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
The sun burns down
Leaving God's bright stamp
On Peach Branch Horse and Bible Camp
Where we're splashing in the water
Joined in song
Swimming with the Spirit the whole day long
I'm a teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
The girls have looks and the girls have rules
They came here from their Bible schools
They can make you pay attention
To the way you dress and eat
Make you trip over your own two feet and they
Kneel down on their towels at night
Their nightgowns glow with a Holy light
And we pray for the sinners
And their drunken car wrecks
And vow that I'll never get high
And have sex
I'm a teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
And God made every leaf on every tree
Each grain of sand
God has a plan
For what we're meant to be
I gotta wait for God
Dear Lord
I plan each day
The things I will not do or say
But I'm driven by a passion
Is it only there to tame?
It fills my heart and it calls my name and
This world that you made for us
I know, I know, is dangerous
So I ride a lot of horses
And I never even swear
Sorta like praying I'm just not there
Oh God
God is watching, oh God
God is watching
But God made love
God made the rivers run
And cowboy boots and bathing suits
And the boy's skin dries in the sun
You gotta help me, God
Help me know, four years from now
I won't believe in you anyhow
And I'll mope around the campus
And I'll feel betrayed
All those guilty summers I stayed
But then I'll laugh
That I fell for the lure
Of the pain of desire to feel so pure
And I'll bear all the burdens
Of my little daily crimes
Wish I had a God for such cynical times
Far from today
But for now I'm a sacred vessel
Rip me open, I spread your word
Like a milkweed pod
I'm a radio station,
Your Holy transmission
Even more, like a lightning rod
I'm a lightning rod, a teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
God is watching... a teen for God
Leaving God's bright stamp
On Peach Branch Horse and Bible Camp
Where we're splashing in the water
Joined in song
Swimming with the Spirit the whole day long
I'm a teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
The girls have looks and the girls have rules
They came here from their Bible schools
They can make you pay attention
To the way you dress and eat
Make you trip over your own two feet and they
Kneel down on their towels at night
Their nightgowns glow with a Holy light
And we pray for the sinners
And their drunken car wrecks
And vow that I'll never get high
And have sex
I'm a teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
And God made every leaf on every tree
Each grain of sand
God has a plan
For what we're meant to be
I gotta wait for God
Dear Lord
I plan each day
The things I will not do or say
But I'm driven by a passion
Is it only there to tame?
It fills my heart and it calls my name and
This world that you made for us
I know, I know, is dangerous
So I ride a lot of horses
And I never even swear
Sorta like praying I'm just not there
Oh God
God is watching, oh God
God is watching
But God made love
God made the rivers run
And cowboy boots and bathing suits
And the boy's skin dries in the sun
You gotta help me, God
Help me know, four years from now
I won't believe in you anyhow
And I'll mope around the campus
And I'll feel betrayed
All those guilty summers I stayed
But then I'll laugh
That I fell for the lure
Of the pain of desire to feel so pure
And I'll bear all the burdens
Of my little daily crimes
Wish I had a God for such cynical times
Far from today
But for now I'm a sacred vessel
Rip me open, I spread your word
Like a milkweed pod
I'm a radio station,
Your Holy transmission
Even more, like a lightning rod
I'm a lightning rod, a teen for God
God is watching, teen for God
God is watching... a teen for God
Lyrics submitted by rocketdays
Teen for God Lyrics as written by Dar Williams
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Funny thing is, I'm Jewish/athiest and I still love this song. Dar Williams just has an excellent way to draw people in.
Peace Branch Horse and Bible Camp
I think being atheist is as good a reason as any to like this song, because to me it sounds like it's saying that having faith in whatever god and/or religion is all well and good, but you have to choose it yourself and only for yourself. A "find your own truth and leave others in peace to find theirs" kind of thing.
This song is a delightful parody of a Christian summer camp for teens and the fanaticism that seems to be a big part of teenage Christianity (and kept me firmly in the non practising believer group throughout high school).
I think Dar strikes perfect notes all the way through describing the perfect, pure girls who pray for everyone else while policing them as well, the idea that the absolute worst things you could ever do are get high or have sex, and the struggle between purity and your maturing libido which leaves you with the strong impression that perhaps sex isn't so evil after all "and the boys' skin dries in the sun."
I also thought she kind of hit it dead on when describing the Teens for God who give up their religiosity in college, possibly because they wanted to get high and/or have sex.