I agree with the analysis that this is a song about religion and the slippery people are religious leaders and the religious aspects of ourselves.
Further to what other people have said I think this song revolves arround the internal conflict between mans rational side and religious thinking that comes to many of us naturally as a coping mechanism for, among other things, the problems made by other religious people. So for instance the second versus starts out as this calm rational coping:-
"Put away that gun
This part is simple
Try to recognize
What is in you mind"
but then when rationality reveals the woes of the world it degenerates into fleeing from rationality to relgion to cope with the religious:-
"God help us!
Help us loose our minds
These slippery people
help us understand"
Then in the final verse we see the protagonist trying to cope with religion by consoling himself that it'll go away in time: -
"Cool down
Stop acting crazy
They're gonna leave
And we'll be on our own"
before having a religious vision himself:-
"Seven times five
They were living creatures
Watch 'em come to life
Right before your eyes"
Rebeling against this relgious thought which his rational side sees as a backward step: -
"Backsliding!"
Before acknowledging his vision, accepting it and getting on with his life with the help of his religion:-
"How do you do?
These slippery people
Gonna see you through"
I agree with the analysis that this is a song about religion and the slippery people are religious leaders and the religious aspects of ourselves.
Further to what other people have said I think this song revolves arround the internal conflict between mans rational side and religious thinking that comes to many of us naturally as a coping mechanism for, among other things, the problems made by other religious people. So for instance the second versus starts out as this calm rational coping:-
"Put away that gun This part is simple Try to recognize What is in you mind"
but then when rationality reveals the woes of the world it degenerates into fleeing from rationality to relgion to cope with the religious:-
"God help us! Help us loose our minds These slippery people help us understand"
Then in the final verse we see the protagonist trying to cope with religion by consoling himself that it'll go away in time: -
"Cool down Stop acting crazy They're gonna leave And we'll be on our own"
before having a religious vision himself:-
"Seven times five They were living creatures Watch 'em come to life Right before your eyes"
Rebeling against this relgious thought which his rational side sees as a backward step: -
"Backsliding!"
Before acknowledging his vision, accepting it and getting on with his life with the help of his religion:-
"How do you do? These slippery people Gonna see you through"