In Exile

I am an exile, a sojourner
A citizen of some other place
All I've seen is just a glimmer in just a shadowy mirror
But I know one day we'll see face to face

I am a nomad, a wanderer
I have nowhere to lay my head down
There's no point in putting roots to deep when I'm moving on
Not settling for this unsettling town

My heart is filled with songs of forever
A city that endures, where all is made new
And no I don't belong here
I'll never call this place my home
I'm just passing through

I am a pilgrim, a voyager
I won't rest until my lips touch the shore
Of the land that I've been longing for as long as I've lived
Where there'll be no pain or tears anymore



Lyrics submitted by faithinthethief

Track duration: 03:52


In Exile song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment:I'm not a Christian, but I am spiritual and this song still completely fits. It's about existence beyond the physical realm, and I definitely perceive that. I don't think in terms of "Heaven", "God", etc. but still can completely relate to this song.
    Flag amongthesleepon August 20, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I think this song is definitely about going to heaven, but he's singing about the journey of life. He's just going through it until he reaches heaven. "I know i dont belong here i'll never call this place my home, i'm just passing through" It's makes sense to think it's about his life on the road, but the lyrics are much deeper if you look closely. Amazing song.
    Flag chelsbels105on September 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:
    This song makes me think of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name."
    Flag RockPhotoStaron November 17, 2009   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation:To my fellow Thrice fans,
    the first time I heard these lyrics, I knew exactly what it was talking about because I read the bible, and can tell you Dustin Kensrue is a Christian, and no, he's not religious. Religion is just man's attempt to get to heaven apart from Christ. (Dustin doesn't come right out and say that he's a Christian, and I think it's because he wants to appeal to all audiences, and still use his music as his ministry to share the Word. Praise the Lord!)

    So check out these scriptures that I've posted and you'll see how the song relates to them:

    The first verse is from Philippians 3:20 and 1 Corinthians 13:12. Here's the verse, and then the scripture beneath it.

    I am an exile, a sojourner
    A citizen of some other place
    All I've seen is just a glimmer in just a shadowy mirror
    But I know one day we'll see face to face

    Philippian 3:20 "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,"

    1 Corinthians 13:12
    "Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity."

    Here's the next verses correspond with these scriptures:
    I am a nomad, a wanderer
    I have nowhere to lay my head down
    There's no point in putting roots to deep when I'm moving on
    Not settling for this unsettling town

    Luke 9:58 "And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

    My heart is filled with songs of forever
    A city that endures, where all is made new
    And no I don't belong here
    I'll never call this place my home
    I'm just passing through

    I am a pilgrim, a voyager
    I won't rest until my lips touch the shore
    Of the land that I've been longing for as long as I've lived
    Where there'll be no pain or tears anymore

    1 Peter 2:11 "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul."

    Acts 7:6 "And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others"

    John 15:9 "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world"

    Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

    Flag ChristServantnotReligiouson October 31, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Earth is not his home, he is merely passing through. His home is the eternal afterlife (heaven for him).
    Flag Thricefoldon October 29, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:OK. It seems pretty obvious to me what this song is talking about. Dustin reads a lot of christian philosophy. We've seen references to Kierkegaard in other songs (mesenger) and arguably others.

    This song is about or inspired by St.Augustine's " The City of God".

    In the City of God, Augustine talk about being a citizen of the city of man, or citizen of the city of God. The citizen of the City of God has higher priorities than to listen and abide by the state and mundane trivilaities that go with it. His dedication is in the city of God- that of the eternal realm.in a sense he is talking about an afterlife; it's implied. But the point is that his mission and service is that of God and Jesus Christ rather than what we are so often occupied with these days. st. Augustine is a neo-platonist, so another way to look at this is by looking at Socrates- how he was able to renounce to everything, money, a home, and eventually life. He was a citizen of some other place.The eternal realm is the truth; the truth of God. The city of God is in that "realm".

    "songs of forever"
    "city that endures, where all is made new" (forgiveness , love, hope; these are the prime values of the city of God)

    Amazing song. Amazing lyrics.
    Flag filrefon October 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song reminds me of Ryoga Hibiki from Ranma 1/2 :)

    haha I didn't think the god thing till later. kinda ruined it for me :(
    I believe in god i just don't like mixing my faith and my music.

    oh and it makes me want to wander. hahaha i like simplicity.
    Flag kit1020on August 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:FireSermon hit the nail on the head, I'm glad I didn't have to type all that out. To add to it as even more proof though, was his reference to Paul in Hebrews 13:14 "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come." Also, the New Testament refers to what Jesus accomplished in his death as him making all things new again. Other than that, FireSermon covered all the other bases. How could anyone read the line "My heart is filled with songs of forever" and not think he is directly referring to eternity...or forever.
    Flag kman22on August 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i too think this song is about heaven, but doesnt the drum beat at the beggining remind you of the sound your blinker makes?
    Flag millym09on August 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Spot on with the City of God reference.
    Flag russellcpon August 15, 2009   Link

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