Ian has told a few times what it's about (sorry to ruin debates with interview quotes, but that's being a true Bunnymen addict for you). It's about religion, about ignoring earthly pleasures and desires because of wanting to stay true to your religious believes. "He will wait until you give yourself to Him" - the He and Him is not some distant boyfriend or so, it's God. Ian has clearly confirmed this in several interviews, and it was also shortly mentionned in Turquoise Days, the EATB biograpghy. Apart from that I do adore the imaginary of this song: "your lips' magic world, the sky all hung with jewels" - you will rarely find a line more romantic than that. The video is also a must-see, deeply romantic yet somewhat macabre, showing Ian's face lit by the moon only. And last but not least, the sleeve pic for the old vinyl single shows a remote nocturnal rocky beach with a little boat drifting near the shoreline, all lit by only the moon. No picture could suit this song better.
@Cracked Pleasures Wow, I don't think you understood what you read. Especially the whole earthly pleasures and desires bit. Ian does write about god quite a bit but he's not some fundamentalist Christian. It's not a straight-forward song about the traditional god many have in mind. He has said the song's about free will versus fate and let's just say free will doesn't come up the winner. The part about "giving yourself to him" isn't about someone willing following god and the bible's tenets. It's about the inevitability of fate.
@Cracked Pleasures Wow, I don't think you understood what you read. Especially the whole earthly pleasures and desires bit. Ian does write about god quite a bit but he's not some fundamentalist Christian. It's not a straight-forward song about the traditional god many have in mind. He has said the song's about free will versus fate and let's just say free will doesn't come up the winner. The part about "giving yourself to him" isn't about someone willing following god and the bible's tenets. It's about the inevitability of fate.
And Ian's just about the last person to forego earthly pleasures. His biography should probably be titled, "Ciggies, drinks and drugs (and the birds)"
@Cracked Pleasures i also could see it as succumbing to the devil. Or darker and deeper about rape. I do tend to think it's what you say as u obviously have done more research. But my interpretation was always darker. Glad I found this site
@Cracked Pleasures i also could see it as succumbing to the devil. Or darker and deeper about rape. I do tend to think it's what you say as u obviously have done more research. But my interpretation was always darker. Glad I found this site
Ian has told a few times what it's about (sorry to ruin debates with interview quotes, but that's being a true Bunnymen addict for you). It's about religion, about ignoring earthly pleasures and desires because of wanting to stay true to your religious believes. "He will wait until you give yourself to Him" - the He and Him is not some distant boyfriend or so, it's God. Ian has clearly confirmed this in several interviews, and it was also shortly mentionned in Turquoise Days, the EATB biograpghy. Apart from that I do adore the imaginary of this song: "your lips' magic world, the sky all hung with jewels" - you will rarely find a line more romantic than that. The video is also a must-see, deeply romantic yet somewhat macabre, showing Ian's face lit by the moon only. And last but not least, the sleeve pic for the old vinyl single shows a remote nocturnal rocky beach with a little boat drifting near the shoreline, all lit by only the moon. No picture could suit this song better.
@Cracked Pleasures Wow, I don't think you understood what you read. Especially the whole earthly pleasures and desires bit. Ian does write about god quite a bit but he's not some fundamentalist Christian. It's not a straight-forward song about the traditional god many have in mind. He has said the song's about free will versus fate and let's just say free will doesn't come up the winner. The part about "giving yourself to him" isn't about someone willing following god and the bible's tenets. It's about the inevitability of fate.
@Cracked Pleasures Wow, I don't think you understood what you read. Especially the whole earthly pleasures and desires bit. Ian does write about god quite a bit but he's not some fundamentalist Christian. It's not a straight-forward song about the traditional god many have in mind. He has said the song's about free will versus fate and let's just say free will doesn't come up the winner. The part about "giving yourself to him" isn't about someone willing following god and the bible's tenets. It's about the inevitability of fate.
And Ian's just about the last person to forego earthly pleasures. His biography should probably be titled, "Ciggies, drinks and drugs (and the birds)"
@Cracked Pleasures i also could see it as succumbing to the devil. Or darker and deeper about rape. I do tend to think it's what you say as u obviously have done more research. But my interpretation was always darker. Glad I found this site
@Cracked Pleasures i also could see it as succumbing to the devil. Or darker and deeper about rape. I do tend to think it's what you say as u obviously have done more research. But my interpretation was always darker. Glad I found this site