whether he meant it or not, (which i'm almost sure he did because the biblical allusions and references to the crucifiction are blatant if you look for them), this song is about Jesus's last couple days as a mortal.
He was 33 when crucified, he "forgives everyone", the cluttered streets that greet him refer to the thousands of the lame and sick that beg to be touched and healed, the "supper" that's waiting on the table refers to the Last Supper with his disciples on the night before he died, "steeple guide me to my heart and home" alludes to God the Father leading him to remain faithful even though he's about to be crucified though he could prove his power by one simple miracle.
i love this song. it took me scrounging up meloncholy (what a great collection) a couple years after it was released to understand the meaning. i was in like, 5th grade or something when it first came out so i listened to it without really reflecting on the lyrics
@emilystarnes Bingo. I am not religious at all, but I grew up going to Catholic schools so the stories are all there in my brain. Jesus was supposed to have been 33 at the time of his crucifixion...the last "supper's waiting on the table"..."mysteries not ready to reveal" etc., etc.
That DOES NOT mean the song isn't also about Billy's own life at the time -- all of these lines can have very literal meanings as well -- but I agree that the references are impossible to ignore and while Billy himself refuses to acknowledge it was about Christ, he also...
@emilystarnes Bingo. I am not religious at all, but I grew up going to Catholic schools so the stories are all there in my brain. Jesus was supposed to have been 33 at the time of his crucifixion...the last "supper's waiting on the table"..."mysteries not ready to reveal" etc., etc.
That DOES NOT mean the song isn't also about Billy's own life at the time -- all of these lines can have very literal meanings as well -- but I agree that the references are impossible to ignore and while Billy himself refuses to acknowledge it was about Christ, he also does not deny it.
Personally, I think he was drawing a parallel in the fact that he has reached a peak in his life, he senses things are about to turn for the worse, and that perhaps that is necessary in order to begin a transformation for the next part of his life -- a "rebirth" so to speak. But that's nothing more than my opinion.
whether he meant it or not, (which i'm almost sure he did because the biblical allusions and references to the crucifiction are blatant if you look for them), this song is about Jesus's last couple days as a mortal. He was 33 when crucified, he "forgives everyone", the cluttered streets that greet him refer to the thousands of the lame and sick that beg to be touched and healed, the "supper" that's waiting on the table refers to the Last Supper with his disciples on the night before he died, "steeple guide me to my heart and home" alludes to God the Father leading him to remain faithful even though he's about to be crucified though he could prove his power by one simple miracle.
i love this song. it took me scrounging up meloncholy (what a great collection) a couple years after it was released to understand the meaning. i was in like, 5th grade or something when it first came out so i listened to it without really reflecting on the lyrics
@emilystarnes Bingo. I am not religious at all, but I grew up going to Catholic schools so the stories are all there in my brain. Jesus was supposed to have been 33 at the time of his crucifixion...the last "supper's waiting on the table"..."mysteries not ready to reveal" etc., etc. That DOES NOT mean the song isn't also about Billy's own life at the time -- all of these lines can have very literal meanings as well -- but I agree that the references are impossible to ignore and while Billy himself refuses to acknowledge it was about Christ, he also...
@emilystarnes Bingo. I am not religious at all, but I grew up going to Catholic schools so the stories are all there in my brain. Jesus was supposed to have been 33 at the time of his crucifixion...the last "supper's waiting on the table"..."mysteries not ready to reveal" etc., etc. That DOES NOT mean the song isn't also about Billy's own life at the time -- all of these lines can have very literal meanings as well -- but I agree that the references are impossible to ignore and while Billy himself refuses to acknowledge it was about Christ, he also does not deny it. Personally, I think he was drawing a parallel in the fact that he has reached a peak in his life, he senses things are about to turn for the worse, and that perhaps that is necessary in order to begin a transformation for the next part of his life -- a "rebirth" so to speak. But that's nothing more than my opinion.