Chernenko aspect of the song, along with critique of communist regime is evident, but I was puzzled by the evangelical singing during the song, so I dug deeper... as in googled it.
Apparently, there's an anti-theistic meaning to it as well. Phrase pure white snow is reference to the verse “Come now, and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Basically, the song is about how bound and imprisoned one feels when under the weight of imposed ethical standards.
By having this ambiguous meaning, song clearly makes an analogy between religion and communism (or rather, communistic regime), which I think is brilliant, even if we disregard how great the music itself is.
And while I'll admit that "snow" is slang for cocaine (as are about a hundred different words), this is where any possible relation to the topic ends, if for nothing else then for a fact that cocaine is one drug that doesn't make you depressed or alienated. Or at least that's just me and six other people I know.
Also, I think it's obvious that verses such as "They're all out back
Under fifteen feet of pure white snow" referring to evangelists, and "but my neighbor is my enemy," referring to "love thy neighbor," and "I can't even find
Anything worth stealing" referring to "Thou shall not steal" are anti-theistic comments that support the idea of being buried under all the "whiteness."
Also, I think it's obvious that verses such as "They're all out back
Under fifteen feet of pure white snow" referring to evangelists, and "but my neighbor is my enemy," referring to "love thy neighbor," and "I can't even find
Anything worth stealing" referring to "Thou shall not steal" are anti-theistic comments that support the idea of being buried under all the "whiteness."
It never ceases to amaze me how people are able to read the meaning they want into almost anything. I find this interpretation a bit of a stretch, for instance, but then - since it is in line with currently fashionable thinking - many would find it quite plausible. And then again, most ardent 'anti-theists' I came across have serious trouble admitting that some of the worst atrocities that committed in the 20th century happened under militantly atheistic regimes and that paradigm 'power corrupts' applies to people irrespective of their religious or ideological adherences.
It never ceases to amaze me how people are able to read the meaning they want into almost anything. I find this interpretation a bit of a stretch, for instance, but then - since it is in line with currently fashionable thinking - many would find it quite plausible. And then again, most ardent 'anti-theists' I came across have serious trouble admitting that some of the worst atrocities that committed in the 20th century happened under militantly atheistic regimes and that paradigm 'power corrupts' applies to people irrespective of their religious or ideological adherences.
As for the song - it is open to multiple layers of meaning, but the most evident is alienation, loneliness, weight of your own problems - something closer to the frozen heart of Hell in Dante's Inferno, than any political statement.
Although drug addiction and people who died alone in the Gulags of the frozen north, often after being denounced to the KGB by their next door neighbours, are the themes that also spring to mind.
This is incredibly well thought out song.
Chernenko aspect of the song, along with critique of communist regime is evident, but I was puzzled by the evangelical singing during the song, so I dug deeper... as in googled it.
Apparently, there's an anti-theistic meaning to it as well. Phrase pure white snow is reference to the verse “Come now, and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Basically, the song is about how bound and imprisoned one feels when under the weight of imposed ethical standards.
By having this ambiguous meaning, song clearly makes an analogy between religion and communism (or rather, communistic regime), which I think is brilliant, even if we disregard how great the music itself is.
And while I'll admit that "snow" is slang for cocaine (as are about a hundred different words), this is where any possible relation to the topic ends, if for nothing else then for a fact that cocaine is one drug that doesn't make you depressed or alienated. Or at least that's just me and six other people I know.
source: yaledailynews.com/weekend/2001/04/13/cave-spreads-the-not-so-good-news/
Also, I think it's obvious that verses such as "They're all out back Under fifteen feet of pure white snow" referring to evangelists, and "but my neighbor is my enemy," referring to "love thy neighbor," and "I can't even find Anything worth stealing" referring to "Thou shall not steal" are anti-theistic comments that support the idea of being buried under all the "whiteness."
Also, I think it's obvious that verses such as "They're all out back Under fifteen feet of pure white snow" referring to evangelists, and "but my neighbor is my enemy," referring to "love thy neighbor," and "I can't even find Anything worth stealing" referring to "Thou shall not steal" are anti-theistic comments that support the idea of being buried under all the "whiteness."
It never ceases to amaze me how people are able to read the meaning they want into almost anything. I find this interpretation a bit of a stretch, for instance, but then - since it is in line with currently fashionable thinking - many would find it quite plausible. And then again, most ardent 'anti-theists' I came across have serious trouble admitting that some of the worst atrocities that committed in the 20th century happened under militantly atheistic regimes and that paradigm 'power corrupts' applies to people irrespective of their religious or ideological adherences.
It never ceases to amaze me how people are able to read the meaning they want into almost anything. I find this interpretation a bit of a stretch, for instance, but then - since it is in line with currently fashionable thinking - many would find it quite plausible. And then again, most ardent 'anti-theists' I came across have serious trouble admitting that some of the worst atrocities that committed in the 20th century happened under militantly atheistic regimes and that paradigm 'power corrupts' applies to people irrespective of their religious or ideological adherences.
As for the song - it is open to multiple layers of meaning, but the most evident is alienation, loneliness, weight of your own problems - something closer to the frozen heart of Hell in Dante's Inferno, than any political statement.
Although drug addiction and people who died alone in the Gulags of the frozen north, often after being denounced to the KGB by their next door neighbours, are the themes that also spring to mind.