Baby I'll be your soldier
Gladly I'll do your bidding
For just a taste of what you're holding
For just a taste you could own me
Save your sermons for someone that's afraid to love
I'll be right here lying in the hands of god

Here it comes dive right into me
Now the floor is the ceiling
If you never flew why would you?
Cut the wings off a butterfly

Save your sermons for someone that's afraid to love
If you knew what I feel then you couldn't be so sure
I'll be right here lying in the hands of god
If you feel angels in your hair
Teardrops of joy run down your face
You will rise

Fill me up now drain me
Skin begins to grow back slowly
Faster until I'm choking
I really should call my mother

Save your sermons for someone that's afraid to love
If you knew what I feel then you couldn't be so sure
I'll be right here lying in the hands of god
If you feel angels in your hair

I am in love with nothing else
Teardrops of joy run off my face
I will rise for someone that's afraid to love
If you knew what I feel then you couldn't be so sure
I'll be right here lying in the hands of god

Now the floor is the ceiling
If you never flew why would you



Lyrics submitted by MidwestDrummer, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 05:13


Lying in the Hands of God song meanings
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30 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:The meaning of this song can be summed up with one word, "DRUGS" I figured "Now the floor is the ceiling" would be a dead giveaway. But people got caught up with "Someone who's afraid to love". If you don't believe me, try shrooms.
    Flag misterjeebuson May 28, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Sorry to anyone who thinks this is a pro-religion song. This song (and a few others from this time period) were actually Dave's departure from religion. He has, on numerous occasions now, stated that he's agnostic bordering on atheist and does not actively believe in god. This song is about his LACK of belief in god. He discovered that his love for his wife is so full & perfect that "god" isn't a love he needs. That's how it is.
    Flag AntsMarching654on May 19, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Dave is saying that true love is the greatest experience of human nature and to be in the euphoria of it is as close to the concept of heaven as we can get, hence the expression "lying in the hands of God"... It's as powerful, comforting and frightening as anything in this world and no one could ever talk him out of his certainty... Genius in musical form...
    Flag duds11on September 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think this song is about he battle between "Religion" and Spirituality.

    "Gladly I'll do your bidding
    For just a taste of what you're holding ---->I believe refers to the desire to be filled with the Love
    For just a taste you could own me " of God (The name God being used loosely as a understanding for something bigger than all of us)

    "Save your sermon for someone thats afraid to love" ------->Speaking directly to anyone who tries to pressure the belief that God/Jesus is the only way to know Pure love.

    "If you feel angels in your hair
    Teardrops of joy run down your face ---------->The feeling of accepting your place as a belonging
    You will rise of 'God/Spiritual" love. Reverence for life.

    Fill me up now drain me
    Skin begins to grow back slowly
    Faster until I'm choking
    I really should call my mother"

    "I will rise for someone that's afraid to love" ----------> Stating he will be a voice for those who are afraid to deny religion for the sake of a simply Spiritual life.

    Of course this is just my opinion but it's what I hear in many of his songs, even though he obviously has struggled with substance abuse, Any one who denies that Dave is spiritual is missing out on what makes their music so magical. One of the few musical groups who through their individual genius can come together to create something that stirs the souls of many. Spirituality is at the Core of their best works.
    Flag ambercaiton November 12, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just want to say how amazing it is that music in general, dmb more specifically, can arouse so many different interpretations to many diff people. I am completley floored by it. for instance this song, so far we have love (obviously), marijuana, heroin (!), god, and sex. To create a song like that takes serious skill, and i love dave for that, and all music for that matter.
    Flag dmbfan5on October 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wow, I thought it was completely about sex and the ultimate euphoria you feel when you're ultimately connected with someone through mind, spirit, and ultimately consumate it through body.
    He's trying to tell this righteous girl who is afraid of sex that it's not wrong, and that it's the greatest feeling in the world.
    Flag myuzikolijeeon September 10, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:songfacts.com/…

    here's a paragraph from the above link:

    "Matthews added about the song's lyrical content: "I don't know whether it's a song about being lost or being f--kin' out of your mind because you licked some cactus or swallowed some mushroom somewhere and turned your head upside down. It could be "Hey! (hey), You! (you), Get off of my cloud." It could be a lot of things. I like songs that just create beautiful images and that's why I don't want to talk about the lyrics because I just think it's perfect. Some of the songs have to be open."



    ---I'm glad he said that, bcuz not one of yall's interpretations were anything close to what I got from this song.

    like he said "I like songs that just create beautiful images... some songs have to be open."

    the great thing about this song (and DMB in general) is that I have my interpretation of this song and you have yours, and yet neither one is wrong :-D
    Flag noelleishon August 08, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Interesting posts...never thought of the drug reference...

    I think this song, while confusing at points, is absolutely an attack on organized religion; a sarcastic one, in fact. I think he is in essence saying that he believes and he loves and that is all that matters. And that believing in God and love is much different and perhaps even more important than believing church, etc.

    Baby I'll be your soldier
    Gladly I'll do your bidding
    For just a taste of what you're holding
    For just a taste you could own me
    --> I think this is almost a sarcastic way of making fun of ppl who are really into organized religion..."soldier" makes me think of someone who would defend and fight for something - maybe for their religious beliefs..."for just a taste of what your holding" = communion. "for just a taste you could own me" - making fun of the fact that communion could mean that the church owns you and you become their 'soldier'/defender/you would fight for them.

    Save your sermons for someone that's afraid to love
    I'll be right here lying in the hands of god
    --> again, a little sarcastic..."save your sermons..." is like saying all that organized religion/sermons are for ppl that can't feel the love in their heart and they need something to believe in and to love and that fills their void; but as for me, I don't need that, I already believe and I already love and I'll be with God.

    Here it comes dive right into me
    Now the floor is the ceiling
    --> I think this has dual meaning - 1) is that his belief in God comes into him and takes him out of the time and space reference (when as you read about spirituality, that is one of the first things that come up - that we are not this body, mind, etc...we are the soul. And the soul is not bound by time and space, as the body and mind is.) and 2) I think its also a sarcastic reference to what church/sermons do to people...makes them lose their minds in a way ("now the floor is the ceiling" - meaning not really knowing which way is up, down, right, wrong)

    If you never flew why would you?
    Cut the wings off a butterfly
    --> If you never really thought out of the box or thought about things in this way...them why would you condemn someone for doing so

    If you feel angels in your hair
    Teardrops of joy run down your face
    You will rise
    --> stating that if you can feel the little things, angels in your hair, etc...then you have experienced God, Love, etc and you can rise up and see what the bigger picture is.

    Fill me up now drain me
    Skin begins to grow back slowly
    Faster until I'm choking
    I really should call my mother
    --> again sarcastic interpretation of what the church/organized religion...fills you up (with the sermons) then drains you (maybe a money reference? or drains you of good things bc religion teaches you to judge other people that aren't of the same religion, etc)...faster until I'm choking I think just means that they can be overbearing with forcing their beliefs on their parishioners...really should call my mother - love this bc I think again, its an attack on the fact that we are taught to always believe God is a man...but maybe his mother can save him...as in the Blessed Mother, as in Mother Earth, etc...bc when you have a spirtitual belief you realize that God and the mother are one in the same.

    I am in love with nothing else
    Teardrops of joy run off my face
    I will rise for someone that's afraid to love
    --> he is in love with God, and nothing else bc God is in everything - his wife, his kids, his music. And he will rise up for someone that afraid to love - shows his non-judgement

    Love this song, Dave is a musical genius





    Flag lmp20on July 28, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Everyone has their own interpretation. Personally I think its the story of Adam and eve." Baby ill be your solider....for just a taste of what your holding." It's Adam walking up to eve, saying I'm yours and that fruit in your hand looks good. And ill do anything for it. The chores is eve speaking to Adam. "save you sermon...afraid to love...." she is saying. Look adam, I love you, I wouldn't decieve you, so save tour god reasons for someone who wouldn't take care of you. "ill be here lying in hands of god" she's saying. Look, I'm safe and I ate the Apple. So you will be too.

    "here it comes divin into me...floor is ceiling." Adam ate the apple, and now he sees his sin, and everythings changing.

    "if. You never flew, cut wings" its a 3rd person perspective. Saying to eve. If you gave up the freedom you had, why would you strip it away from Adam, who was still. Innocent and beautiful like a butterfly.

    " skin starts to....chocking me" now Adams sin is overwhelming him, and he sees that he's naked and is embarressed. And the view god placed before his eyes is withering away.


    Theres more descriptions that point to it I think. But I don't have time to go. Into them. Wicked how Dave does this. I invisioned this while I listened to it, after smoking a bowl. Test it out and tell me if you see the same.
    Flagged LiveOnNoEvilon May 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think this song might be about being gay. to me the lines "Save your sermons for someone that's afraid to love" says dont preach to me that this is wrong save it for someone that will belive you and is to scared to love someone who is gay. there is also the parts where he says "If you never flew why would you Cut the wings off a butterfly". i think that he is saying that if your not gay then how do you know anything about this? there are other things that kinda could mean this but im not gonna type them all.
    not sure if this is what he is saying but no one has said this idea yet so i will get the ball rolling.
    Flag odtpdriveron April 27, 2010   Link

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