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Oh people - what have you done
Locked Him in His golden cage.
Made Him bend to your religion
Him resurrected from the grave.
He is the god of nothing
If that's all that you can see.
You are the god of everything
He's inside you and me.
So lean upon Him gently
And don't call on Him to save you
From your social graces
And the sins you used waive.
The bloody Church of England
In chains of history
Requests your earthly presence at
The vicarage for tea.
And the graven image you-know-who
With His plastic crucifix
He's got him fixed
Confuses me as to who and where and why
As to how he gets his kicks.
Confessing to the endless sin
The endless whining sounds.
You'll be praying till next Thursday to
All the gods that you can count.
Locked Him in His golden cage.
Made Him bend to your religion
Him resurrected from the grave.
He is the god of nothing
If that's all that you can see.
You are the god of everything
He's inside you and me.
So lean upon Him gently
And don't call on Him to save you
From your social graces
And the sins you used waive.
The bloody Church of England
In chains of history
Requests your earthly presence at
The vicarage for tea.
And the graven image you-know-who
With His plastic crucifix
He's got him fixed
Confuses me as to who and where and why
As to how he gets his kicks.
Confessing to the endless sin
The endless whining sounds.
You'll be praying till next Thursday to
All the gods that you can count.
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I believe Anderson is attacking organized religion. God locked in a cage, organized religion can limit spirituality.
He is the God of everything he's inside you and me. He's giving a personal interpretation of God.
I am interpreting the line about the Church of England to mock the Church's tie to state events, the royal family, and tradition (earthly functions).
I believe plastic is relatively new especially when this song was written. It's kind of mocking Christian symbols (Catholics are often accused of worshipping idols i.e. statues of Mary etc.).
The part about praying till next Thursday. I think he's saying you start praying on Sunday and then you stop in less than a week.
While not stated expressly I believe the last lyrics can indirectly be interpreted as an attack on indulgence.
IA: See if you recognise this one. (plays a few notes)
Audience: Waaayyyyyy!!!!!!!!
IA (stopping playing): Bollocks! You can't tell what it is from that!
Audience laughs
IA : Go on then! What was it?
Audience: My God!
IA: Hmmm - lucky guess
another stunning expose of corrupt literalist chritianity from the miester of metaphor, the minstrel in the gallery
he's inside you and me
In regards to the song meaning I find some very good comments here and I am in agreement that the main idea is that we dont have to pray in a church setting to god in front of others or in so called formal churches. Its mentioned in KJV Luke 6:5-6 Jesus says: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter in thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
In addition seeking God in a personal manner and creating a personal relationship with him is the most important thing. The source for the truth is in the bible and the bible is truth. You dont have go to a church per say and buy into what is preached. Read and learn for yourself or in a bible study.