Nothing that you say will release you
Nothing that you pray would forgive you
Nothing's what your words mean to me
Something that you did will destroy me
Something that you said will stay with me long after you are dead and
Gone

If flesh could crawl
My skin would fall
From off my bones and run away from here
As far from god
As heaven is wide
As far from god
As angels can fly
If holy is as holy does

This house will burn straight down to hell take it's conscience with
It as it falls nothing said could change the fact
My trust was blind you broke the pact
If gods my witness god must be blind
If flesh could crawl
My skin would fall
From off my bones and run away from here
As far from god
As heaven is wide
As far from god
As angels can fly
I wish

Take it back I dare you take it back
No you can't? you should have thought of that what's inside a man that
Goes so wrong

Choke on guilt that's far too good for you say one word I'll laugh and
Bury you

And leave you in the place where you left me
If flesh could crawl
My skin would fall
From off my bones and run away from here
As far from god
As heaven is wide
As far from god
As angels can fly
I wish I could fly



Lyrics submitted by sawg

Track duration: 04:44

"As Heaven Is Wide" as written by Shirley Ann Manson, Bryan David Vig, Douglas Elwin Erickson, Steve W Marker

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


As Heaven Is Wide song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Amberyeah's interpretation pretty much describes a situation I was in about 4-5 months ago. I won't get into it, but if you really want to know, read my comment on "Special" for more information.
    Flag MetalSmasher86on April 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Believe it or not, I think this song is about Shirley's misadventures with her parents (specifically, her father) as a child. She came from a very religious household, and she had a lot of issues with them as a child. Finally, at age 12, she blew up at them and renounced her religion. She made peace with them eventually (not really sure when), but she was really bitter about religion for a while. I think this is basically an autobiographical song about this whole experience.
    Flag Marty1982on November 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:At first I thought this song was about someone who wronged her so badly that even God wouldn't forgive him or her. But then, after looking at the lyrics more, I realized that it seems more like someone wronged her in the name of God. Hm. I'll comment again if I have more thoughts.
    Flag lovely-akarion June 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with Amberyeah. Altough it could be about a boyfriend who wronged her as well (could be an older man). Definetly about feeling angry over being betrayed.
    Flag kmk_natashaon April 11, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Young girl sexually abused by her pastor father.
    Simple.
    Flag jpwild240on March 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Dual suffering.
    Ideally, I see this song coming from a daughter who was abused somehow by a parent in a highly religious household (religious corruption, thus wanting to be far from God, but still clinging to imbedded Christian concepts of Heaven, holiness, Hell, angels, and God's existence).
    Both have to live with their sins. The song makes me feel like these injustices are never spoken of either.


    "Something that you said will stay with me
    Long after you're dead and gone "
    This gives me the feeling that the abuser is considerably older than the abused. And once they get to die and finally escape their suffering, the person they hurt still has to live with the pain.

    "If flesh could crawl my skin would fall
    From off my bones and run away from here "
    This also might suggest the victim is physically confined somehow, by wheelchair or otherwise, though I don't think this is necessarily the case.

    “As far from God
    As heaven is wide “
    The desire to be far from God would stem from that being brought up with abuse from what was said to be a Godly person.
    Flag amberyeahon February 25, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The first time I read the lyrics it made me think of what Jesus may have been actually feeling when he was dying. Because Jesus was to die for our sins, every sin that a person commits is like another thorn in his side. I agree that it's about betrayal but it seems like Jesus feels betrayed by God.
    Flag kilihilaon December 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:From what I can tell, this is about someone who was hurt badly by another they trusted, and blamed themselves (something that you did will destroy me, something that you did will stay with me), plus the offender. "If holy is as holy does, this house would burn staight down to hell," implies that if this person truely said or confessed to what they were doing, they'd be damned, and because they're not confessing, no one will believe it happened (If God's my witness, God must be blind). It's pretty much an anger rant and the feelings of betrayel and disgust all jammed into one.
    Flag octoberclownon May 08, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is about betrayal. and how nothing could ever make her forgive the person who wronged her. such a great song.
    Flag InaHailofBulletson June 10, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yup, it's about a deep feeling of betrayal and hate.
    Flag Rikoon July 08, 2002   Link

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