I'm going to disagree with those who think Babylon is supposed to be some utopia. The most famous reference to Babylon by far is Psalm 137, talking about the Jewish captivity and diaspora in Babylon:
"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.... For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song.... How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning."
Babylon--far from utopia--represents loss, loneliness, confusion, bewilderment, and longing. The utopia, by contrast, is Jerusalem. The psalmist can never forget Jerusalem, even in all the sensual delights in Babylon.
For Gray's song, I think the meaning is very similar to this psalm. The narrator goes through all the stages of loss. On the first day (Friday) he is just sitting around remembering what he lost. In fact, he regrets even becoming attached to her in the first place. The next day (Saturday) he's trying to forget about the whole thing by going a little bit wild. "Chemicals" might represent drugs/alcohol or it might just be an adrenaline rush. But even in the midst of this pleasure, he just feels his loss even more clearly, "only wish that you were here." He realizes he was simply afraid the whole time. Far from regretting getting to know her, now he regrets only that he didn't "show you how I really feel."
Then comes the chorus, which is great just in its simple message: If you are lonely, if you have lost, or whatever-- "If you want it/ Come and get it/ For crying out loud!" Don't let your heart or head get in the way! If you are in Babylon, get out! My love was never really in doubt, somehow something just got in the way...
On Sunday, he is thinking about finding her again, wondering "where it is you might be going to." Of course, after all his doubt, wandering, and sadness, he finds what he was looking for all along when he comes back home, she was waiting, "smiling there." Happy ending.
The only question then: Who is 'she'? What is your 'Jerusalem'? Who/what is the one thing that YOU have been looking for all along? What are you waiting for?
@siberiantiger28 - This song has been playing in my head for about two days now. I've known the words to this song forever, but I decided to try to figure out what they mean. I read several interpretations, and yours is by far the best - resonates with me. I read the Bible quite often and I get the same understanding. As a woman, my Jerusalem is not a "she" but I can relate to your final message, "what/who is the one thing you have been looking for all along?" and it is for that...
@siberiantiger28 - This song has been playing in my head for about two days now. I've known the words to this song forever, but I decided to try to figure out what they mean. I read several interpretations, and yours is by far the best - resonates with me. I read the Bible quite often and I get the same understanding. As a woman, my Jerusalem is not a "she" but I can relate to your final message, "what/who is the one thing you have been looking for all along?" and it is for that perfect relationship for me, in my heart, Jerusalem simply means a relationship that feels like "home". Because nothing can compare to that warmth. Thanks for sharing!!!! I like it! :-)
I'm going to disagree with those who think Babylon is supposed to be some utopia. The most famous reference to Babylon by far is Psalm 137, talking about the Jewish captivity and diaspora in Babylon: "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.... For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song.... How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning."
Babylon--far from utopia--represents loss, loneliness, confusion, bewilderment, and longing. The utopia, by contrast, is Jerusalem. The psalmist can never forget Jerusalem, even in all the sensual delights in Babylon.
For Gray's song, I think the meaning is very similar to this psalm. The narrator goes through all the stages of loss. On the first day (Friday) he is just sitting around remembering what he lost. In fact, he regrets even becoming attached to her in the first place. The next day (Saturday) he's trying to forget about the whole thing by going a little bit wild. "Chemicals" might represent drugs/alcohol or it might just be an adrenaline rush. But even in the midst of this pleasure, he just feels his loss even more clearly, "only wish that you were here." He realizes he was simply afraid the whole time. Far from regretting getting to know her, now he regrets only that he didn't "show you how I really feel."
Then comes the chorus, which is great just in its simple message: If you are lonely, if you have lost, or whatever-- "If you want it/ Come and get it/ For crying out loud!" Don't let your heart or head get in the way! If you are in Babylon, get out! My love was never really in doubt, somehow something just got in the way...
On Sunday, he is thinking about finding her again, wondering "where it is you might be going to." Of course, after all his doubt, wandering, and sadness, he finds what he was looking for all along when he comes back home, she was waiting, "smiling there." Happy ending.
The only question then: Who is 'she'? What is your 'Jerusalem'? Who/what is the one thing that YOU have been looking for all along? What are you waiting for?
I really love what you wrote, and I'm glad you bring up Psalm 137... I'm going to go read that now.
I really love what you wrote, and I'm glad you bring up Psalm 137... I'm going to go read that now.
@siberiantiger28
@siberiantiger28
@siberiantiger28 - This song has been playing in my head for about two days now. I've known the words to this song forever, but I decided to try to figure out what they mean. I read several interpretations, and yours is by far the best - resonates with me. I read the Bible quite often and I get the same understanding. As a woman, my Jerusalem is not a "she" but I can relate to your final message, "what/who is the one thing you have been looking for all along?" and it is for that...
@siberiantiger28 - This song has been playing in my head for about two days now. I've known the words to this song forever, but I decided to try to figure out what they mean. I read several interpretations, and yours is by far the best - resonates with me. I read the Bible quite often and I get the same understanding. As a woman, my Jerusalem is not a "she" but I can relate to your final message, "what/who is the one thing you have been looking for all along?" and it is for that perfect relationship for me, in my heart, Jerusalem simply means a relationship that feels like "home". Because nothing can compare to that warmth. Thanks for sharing!!!! I like it! :-)