In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I was always one of the righteous
Never lived outside of the light
Kept a close watch on the whitewash
Disguising the dead bones inside
Disguising the dead bones inside
I was always one of the good ones
Keeping tabs on everyone else
Sure that I was one of the chosen
I was a child of Him
I was a child of Him
But you buried me in the bright light
Yeah you held my eyes to the sun
Till I could see that
I was worse
Than I ever feared I could be
But somehow I was loved
More than I ever dared to believe
Because of you
I was always one of the blameless
Or at least that's what I believed
Never thought I could've been blinded
Till I could no longer see
Till I could no longer see
But you buried me in the bright light
Yea you held my eyes to the sun
Till I could see that
I was worse
Than I ever feared I could be
But somehow I was loved
More than I ever dared to believe
Because of you
You showed me I was worse
Than I ever feared I could be
But somehow I was loved
More than I ever dared to believe
Because of you
Never lived outside of the light
Kept a close watch on the whitewash
Disguising the dead bones inside
Disguising the dead bones inside
I was always one of the good ones
Keeping tabs on everyone else
Sure that I was one of the chosen
I was a child of Him
I was a child of Him
But you buried me in the bright light
Yeah you held my eyes to the sun
Till I could see that
I was worse
Than I ever feared I could be
But somehow I was loved
More than I ever dared to believe
Because of you
I was always one of the blameless
Or at least that's what I believed
Never thought I could've been blinded
Till I could no longer see
Till I could no longer see
But you buried me in the bright light
Yea you held my eyes to the sun
Till I could see that
I was worse
Than I ever feared I could be
But somehow I was loved
More than I ever dared to believe
Because of you
You showed me I was worse
Than I ever feared I could be
But somehow I was loved
More than I ever dared to believe
Because of you
Lyrics submitted by BrandNewAVA, edited by ChipperSpiff
Blinded Lyrics as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge Dustin Michael Kensrue
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This seems to be Paul discussing his conversion experience. Prior to his conversion, Paul was a brutal, self-righteous Pharisee that persecuted Christians. In the New Testament, Christ refers to the Pharisees as white-washed sepulchers (referenced here by Dustin with "Kept a close watch on the white wash, disguising the dead bones inside").
However, Paul radically converted to Christianity when he was blinded on the road to Damascus. Dustin references this when he sings, "But you buried me in the bright light/ Yeah, you held my eyes to the sun till I could see." After being literally temporarily blinded by a bright light and hearing the voice of God, Paul could "see" his own hypocrisy. Through this experience he realized God's love.
I think Thrice uses this story to remind the self-righteous among us (Christian and non-Christian alike) to follow God's command to love all people because none of us are blameless. Without love, we are truly dead inside despite whatever righteous front we put up- white-washed sepulchers "disguising the dead bones inside."
Good assessment I think. Dustin puts a lot of Paul into his lyrics. Not to mention he seems fairly reformed in his theology. he even adapted a quote from pastor Tim Keller in his song too the lyric as Dustin writes is this <br /> "that I was worse than I ever feared I could be, but somehow, I was loved more than I ever - <br /> dared to believe because of you.<br /> <br /> While Tim Keller says this "So we can say that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope – at the very same time" Seeing as Dustin has led the worship music for Mars Hill Church in seattle and been interviewed by its pastor mark driscoll, is a member of Orange county Mars hill church and that mars hill has ties to Tim Keller. I would say that is an accurate assessment<br /> as well
I disagree guys. I believe this song is about someone who calls themselves a Christian and thinks they are living the right way, staying away from "sinners" and bad behavior. They missed the real message of the Gospel, which is Jesus's love for us regardless of what we do or don't do.
It's the realization of God's love for us by someone who thought they knew it all, but had missed it all along.
I totaly agree. It seems to me that what Dustin is trying to get across here is misconception of the typical Christian ideal. I am a Christian myself, and I am one of the worst about this. We start to think that all that Christianity and the Bible are are a giant list of rules for the believer, when in fact it is nothing more than a love story of a God to his people. It gets so confused that people lash out at those who don't believe what they do, at those who aren't following those rules themselves, when the ones following the rules aren't truely bathed in God's like, they are just trying to work their way to a goal they can never achieve. Not showing or truely believing in the love of Christ leaves you just as destined for Hell as anyone else. However it doesn't matter whether you are the leading sinner or the most righteous of people, God's love is always present and by actually accepting it leads to his greatest blessing of all.<br /> Just my opinion.
Correct lyrics, not too many corrections. This is straight from the vinyl.
I was always one of the righteous, never lived outside the lines. Kept a close watch on the whitewash, disguising the deadbones inside. I was always one of the good ones, keeping tabs on everyone else; sure that I was - one of the chosen, but I was a child of hell. But you buried me in the bright light. Yeah, you held my eyes to the sun 'till I could see - that I was worse than I ever feared I could be, but somehow, I was loved more than I ever - dared to believe because of you. I was always one of the blameless, or at least that's what I believed. I never thought I could be blinded, until I could no longer see.
This album is seriously amazing! So much depth and emotion in his words. Seems to me that this song is about doubting a higher power.
Really? It's straight from the vinyl? Yeah where do you think I got my copy of lyrics from. Anyways I just took out the "-" when I copied to songmeanings.net
I think the meaning is pretty simple here. Someone that lost faith in a higher power and was redirected to believing in what he previously did because the higher power (most likely God) loved him and never left his side. Although you could interpret this as a loved one not letting someone slide to a dark place and always being there for them.