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Lyrics for Sorrow as interpreted by Zekethesweetpeak

Sorrow Lyrics

Father can you hear me?
How have I let you down?
I curse the day that I was born
And all the sorrow in this world

Let me take you to the hurting ground
Where all good men are trampled down
Just to settle a bet that could not be won
Between a prideful father and his son
Will you guide me now, for I can't see
A reason for the suffering and this long misery
What if every living soul could be upright and strong
Well, then I do imagine

There will be sorrow
Yeah, there will be sorrow
And there will be sorrow, no more

When all soldiers lay their weapons down
Or when all kings and all queens relinquish their crowns
Or when the only true messiah rescues us from ourselves
It's easy to imagine

There will be sorrow
Yeah, there will be sorrow
And there will be sorrow, no more

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taylorofthephunk
06-18-2009

Rated 0

I like how at the end it says there will be sorrow, no more. I think you have to look at that, like it's just about how there will always be sorrow until
"all soldiers lay their weapons down
Or when all kings and all queens relinquish their crowns
Or when the only true messiah rescues us from ourselves"

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Xrunner
04-17-2009

Rated +1

Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/9447

Well, it’s the story of Job from the Old Testament. Job was the most righteous man in the world. The devil said to God “these people are basically bad” and god said “Well no.”

The devil said “Give me one example” and god said “Look at Job, he’s a righteous man.”

The devil said that he could corrupt him like any man, and they made a wager. And that was god’s way of rewarding the one righteous man on the planet. That was god turning his back on the one man who was good and righteous. That’s not god, that’s religion.

That’s an example of how detestable religion is. What is the lesson there?

No matter how good you are, god will turn his back on you? This is the basis for Judaeo-Christian religion? Is it any surprise the world is so screwed up.

They say that the story of the Job is the saddest story ever told, so it seemed like the best archetypal story to start a song called “Sorrow”

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proman
01-14-2009

Rated 0

this song is reference to the bible, specifically the Book of Job in which God basically makes a bet with Satan that Job will still love God even if God takes away everything from Job and basically tortures him, and it's from the point of view of graffin in Job's shoes asking why there is so much sorrow.

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ieatbabies666
10-26-2008

Rated +1

i think hes trying to talk to his "father" (God) but the song is about realizing that there is no God and its this belief in God that is causing the "Sorrow"

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totallytrue
10-24-2008

Rated 0

Totally awesome

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totallytrue
10-24-2008

Rated 0

This song is the shit. XD

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prettyravegirl
08-14-2008

Rated 0

I love this song, its so good...Bad Religion is my FAVEORITE band, and has been for SUCH a long time. Im so excited about there new CD with DVD and also an accustic EP...I found a link for all of you other Bad Religion fans!!

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no anesthetic
08-14-2008

Rated 0

This song is only philosophical on the surface level. The earlier quoted interview pretty clearly shows that Brett, the author, is working through some interpersonal stuff having to do with his dad. I guess it's somewhat philosophical, but I really don't think it's saying anything about "religion" in the way that most people seem to be intrepreting it. The problem of the existence of evil is an old one. For theists it's basically: how did a good God let this $h!t happen?

But atheists have a delimma too -for them there's really no such thing as "evil" there's only rearrangment of protons, neutrons and electrons (the basic building blocks of the material world) and our psychological/emotional reaction to said rearrangement. So really atheists either have to assert an unfounded ethics, or admit that war, genocide, rape aren't actually "evil" because there's no such thing as good and evil i.e. morality is a farse.

I don't see how either approach is any less problematic than the other. This song initially impressed me as a song dealing with a longing for some sort of transcendence -the referrences to a Messiah saving us from ourselves (the opposite of us saving us) -the utopian aspirations hinted at -a frustrating lack of virtue in humanity.

Interesting thing is, whether or not you take this song as being sung from a theistic or atheistic perspective, it's about belief nonetheless -belief in something better. In his essays Greg Graffin has clearly expressed an unwavering commitment to the philosophical values of the European Enlightenment (hence his insistent, though sometimes outdated, criticisms of religious pretense), but how is BR not being just as "dogmatic" as those they reproach??? BR has a belief system like everyone else, whether or not you call it a "religion" is kinda beside the point.

So I say, what the heck, let's believe...in something. BR does, whether they acknowledge it as a "belief" or not.

3 Replies

SwedishFish
07-06-2009

Rated 0

PS just because someone doesn't believe in God doesn't mean that they are a total existentialist/absurdist. It just means that, by their reasoning, God probably doesn't exist. Or at least not in the way organized religion says he does. Doesn't mean they don't think there is a deeper meaning to life, or that they don't have their own ideas about the mystical forces in the universe!

SwedishFish
07-06-2009

Rated 0

Funny you bring up BR's "belief system." I have always thought the title of the band could be a nod to the fact the band itself professes certain beliefs and aims to convince others of them. "Bad Religion" in one sense could be labeling religion in general as "bad." But on the other hand it could be labeling the band itself as a type of religion, one that contrasts with other religions as "bad". In this case it's "bad" because it's heretical.

So, yes Bad Religion subscribes to a certain beliefs, a "religion" in a sense. But it's a "bad" one because it goes against Christianity and other popular religions.

I agree with proman though, that most athiests would not call morality a "farce." In fact, athiests I've talked to believe that people should be accountable for their actions.. a lot of athiests are essentially humanists. They believe that God isn't going to get us out of this mess, that people have to be compassionate and make good descions during their time on Earth. I think that's what this song is about. Humans cause much of their own pain and suffering, and they are the only ones who can do anything to try to put an end to it. We can't blame God for our problems, and we can't expect him to get us out of them..

proman
01-14-2009

Rated +1

"But atheists have a delimma too -for them there's really no such thing as "evil" there's only rearrangment of protons, neutrons and electrons (the basic building blocks of the material world) and our psychological/emotional reaction to said rearrangement. So really atheists either have to assert an unfounded ethics, or admit that war, genocide, rape aren't actually "evil" because there's no such thing as good and evil i.e. morality is a farse."

actually no. as an atheist i follow a set of morals. they just aren't handed to me by "god". I think what is evil is a complex issue and there are shades of gray here but basically hurting others without justification is evil. there's actually a lot more to it than that but it's late and i dont feel like typing an entire book's worth of philosophy tonight.

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MissNeurotic
03-18-2008

Rated +1

I think he's definitely an ateist. And I think their songs do attack religion.

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Marty1982
11-07-2007

Rated -1

Greg claims to be an Atheist, but he often acknowledges the fact that he may be wrong about his disbelief in God. So whether he's really an "atheist" or more of an "agnostic" is debatable. He QUESTIONS religion and religious belief, but he doesn't attack them. He's not an anti-theist (somebody who's against religion and belief in God), and when his music does attack something in regards to religion, it usually attacks the practices of certain religious people. Rather than faith in God itself.

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Richard Enahobo
08-08-2007

Rated +1

"As a Christian anarchist, this song touches me deeply. I don't think that Greg is an atheist. I think he's got a very big problem with institutionalized religion, and that he's a conflicted agnostic. Definitely leaning towards atheistic, but I doubt he's convinced. And I cannot honestly say that I disagree."

I think Greg is atheist because I've read that he's an atheist somewhere, can't remember where.

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Dr. Evil
07-21-2007

Rated 0

I'll just say straight up what I am: Christian Anarchist.

Ever hear of that before?

Probably not. Not alot of us around. Suffice to say that we are completely unlike any christians you've ever seen. We'll tell you what we are, ask you if you're interested, and if you're not, we move on. A God that asks you to go to war for it is not worth your reverence.

As a Christian anarchist, this song touches me deeply. I don't think that Greg is an atheist. I think he's got a very big problem with institutionalized religion, and that he's a conflicted agnostic. Definitely leaning towards atheistic, but I doubt he's convinced. And I cannot honestly say that I disagree.

As I always say, the biggest problem with Christianity is that there's people in it.

Still. This song appeals to me and touches me very deeply. The first part touches me on a very personal level, as though my father and I are on good terms, there is alot of bullshit between us. The reason is that he didn't used to be as patient and understanding as he is now.

The second, about "the herding ground," is about our society. Not just American, or even western, but human society as a whole, because we as humans are all inextricably bound together as family, but sometimes that manifests itself in negative ways. We tend to have a herd instinct that compels us to do what is popular, rather than what is right, and anyone who goes against that gets, as Greg says, "trampled down."

Finally, the last part. About our own human failings. "Will you guide me now, for I can't see..." Only when we give our trust to God and let God (I don't like gender-specific pronouns in reference to the Divine, except Jesus) guide us, can we follow the right path. (Christian anarchists also believe that God has reveals God's self to many people in many ways, such as islam, hinduism, basic non-religious spirituality, and so forth)

But ultimately, we cannot control what other people do. When all soldiers lay their weapons down, (right, like that's ever going to happen) when all kings and queens (and governments in general) relinquish their crowns, (there are enough greedy people in the world to pretty much guarantee that's not happening any time soon) all that sort of thing. We can't control others. Ultimately, our only salvation rests with Jesus. I don't care if Greg did mean that lyric mockingly, (which I somewhat doubt) I take it seriously.

I'm sure people on here will revile and ridicule me for being religious and trying to ascribe a geniune spiritual meaning to this song, but that's just the way it goes.

By the way, this is my band's theme song. We're called N.K.B.G. (No Kings Before God) Despite what you might think from our name, we have far more in common with Rage Against the Machine, (Killing in the Name is one of our staples in addition to our own material) Bob Dylan (God On Our Side is another of our favorites) and even BR here than Sonicflood or Third day. I get rather irritated when someone calls us a Christian rock group, as a matter of fact.

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benjam326
07-12-2007

Rated 0

That would be true, but unfortunately almost every religion, and certainly the major montheistic ones (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) claims to be the true, final, and unalterable word of god. Admitting that any part of their holy book of choice is incorrect is a small tear which would eventually bring down the whole curtain.

Trying to find some sort of middle ground where you pick and choose the parts of the Torah, Bible, or Koran you agree with just makes you someone who appreciates good philosophy, not necessarily a theist.

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Richard Enahobo
06-25-2007

Rated 0

Or maybe they wouldn't lose their faith, but still not condone those parts. Just because you believe a certain religion, doesn't mean you have to agree with everything about it.

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markf
06-18-2007

Rated 0

The Pentateuch and the Torah are the holy books in Judaism, and they constitute the first five books of the Christian bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy). They're also some of the most horrible stuff ever written by Human beings -- rape, slavery, murder, infanticide, genocide, and with God condoning it at every step. In most cases, God is actually COMMANDING it.

All Christians (and Jews and Muslims, since they believe in these horror stories too) should read through Numbers, Deuteronomy, and the book of Joshua. If more of them actually READ those parts of the bible instead of ignoring them, there would be a lot more atheists in the world.

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Richard Enahobo
06-18-2007

Rated 0

Isn't the Torah essentially the Jewish Bible? I'm not that familiar with different religions.

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markf
06-17-2007

Rated +1

Atheists DO use biblical allusions. Most American atheists were raised Christian, and I'll bet Graffin was too. In fact, atheists often know MORE about the bible than their christian peers, because they can look at it without bias, and don't skip over the nasty bits.

For example:
* In the Pentateuch, God condones slavery, and gives the Israelites extensive laws about how to treat slaves.
* In the Torah, God tells the Israelites to commit genocide... repeatedly.
* In Jeremiah, God says that women who sin deserve to be raped.

Most Christians don't even know that, because they've never actually read their bible. A lot of atheists got that way because they actually cracked the bible open one day and found out just what kind of sick, depraved stuff is inside.

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Richard Enahobo
06-04-2007

Rated 0

This song is somewhat ambiguous. It seems to be about the story of Job like others have said. However, it also applies to war.

It starts off with Job talking to God, then it goes into a description of war, calling it a "hurting ground where all good men all trampled down". The narrator can't see a good reason for this war. Finally, he imagines there would be no more sorrow if the soldiers stopped fighting, the world leaders gave up their positions of authority, everyone was able to stand up for themselves, or Jesus comes back and saves us from ourselves.

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xuwen7
06-04-2007

Rated 0

In the second verse "Let me take you to the hurting ground" It should be herding ground , fucking noobs...

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Mnementh
03-13-2007

Rated +1

The only true Messiah who can rescue us from ourselvse is..... OURSELVES.

This is about taking responsibility for ourselves and our actions. Not relying on some fictitious figure to which we can make excuses for our stupidity and cruelty. It ultimateley stating that when we do this there will be (needless) sorrow no more.

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St.Catastrophe
01-04-2007

Rated +1

It's kinda funny, cause i bet like 90% of people misunderstand this song. This song is about religion, and basically it's taking a story from the bible (i think) and turn it against religion or show it as proof for religions cruelty and how fucked up it infact is.

It's the story of job and begin with him talking to god (father can you hear me..") after god has made a bet with satan to prove there's good in humans, and take job as an example saying he's the most righteous man there is. But then satan says that's just cause he has it so good. And to prove satan wrong, god makes a bet with him and as a part of this bet he lets satan kill job's 10 children, take away all his cattle, and then finally his health after satan argued he's still good and righteous as long as he has his health. A very powerful anti-religion song.

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Destinedfornothing
12-07-2006

Rated 0

Well this song is about God, man and lucifer. The song starts out with "Father can you hear me? How have I let you down?"
Which is from the book of Job.
If I am correct... anywho. Great song.

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Pholostan
12-05-2006

Rated 0

I also relate this song to war, a bit like Egalitarian.
When you start a war, what can you be sure of?

Sorrow.

It is the only guaranteed outcome, everything else might or might not come to pass. But there will be much sorrow. That you can be sure of.

If only people whould stand up and do the right thing, there would be less wars. And much less sorrow.

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gofuckyourself
10-19-2006

Rated 0

Their second best, after All There Is, this song, and All There Is, got me into songwriting (which turned into poetry). This is just great. Just beautiful, man.

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strummerville
10-13-2006

Rated 0

i don't think god is real...and i really curse the day that i was born!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and all the sorrow in this world!!!!!!!!!!!and sometimes i want to die...

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