Well, this song is about God obviously, and I think it is referring to the nature of God. "through the fire and through the flames you won't even say your name" I think Ezra is saying that despite all the terror happening in the world, God won't even utter his name. He then muses "who could ever live that way?" which insinuates that God couldn't just ignore all the terrible "fire and flames" if he had the power to change it.
I like the personal touch Ezra gives to this song, it seems almost like it could be song to a woman or lover, but it is sung to God. When he says "oh sweet thing" it really drives the personal connection that Ezra may have with a supreme being.
Then when he sings about Babylon, Zion, America, and others not loving God,he is IMO talking about how people don't really love God. I don't think it is necessarily referring specifically to unbelievers, because he later says "the faithless" which seprates them from the other groups. I think he is saying that: even places that proclaim to be in tribute to you(Zion, Babylon, America) don't really love you but rather they worship you to meet an end. I think part of the meaning of this song can be found on other tracks on this album.
I like most of your interpretation, though i'm not sure if I agree with you about what's being insinuated by the question to God.
I like most of your interpretation, though i'm not sure if I agree with you about what's being insinuated by the question to God.
Just one note though: Zion, Babylon and America shouldn't be put in the same category. In the Hebrew Bible, Zion and Babylon are opposites... Babylon is the oppressive, dominating empire that is against God (along with Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Greece, Rome etc). Zion is supposed to be an alternative nation/city living differently to the other nations - God set Israel free from slavery in Egypt and they're supposed to live different, to live God's way... But in practice of course, they usually fail... Zion isn't much better at loving God than Babylon is...
America on the other hand, well it's actually interesting how he then adds America and leaves it up to the listener to decide whether America is being juxtaposed to Babylon or Zion. Obviously the US is often claimed to be a "Christian nation" - so some would see it as Zion - supposedly serving God, but in practice failing to do so. But in terms of the US' position in the world, it's more the modern-day equivalent of Babylon.
Well, this song is about God obviously, and I think it is referring to the nature of God. "through the fire and through the flames you won't even say your name" I think Ezra is saying that despite all the terror happening in the world, God won't even utter his name. He then muses "who could ever live that way?" which insinuates that God couldn't just ignore all the terrible "fire and flames" if he had the power to change it.
I like the personal touch Ezra gives to this song, it seems almost like it could be song to a woman or lover, but it is sung to God. When he says "oh sweet thing" it really drives the personal connection that Ezra may have with a supreme being.
Then when he sings about Babylon, Zion, America, and others not loving God,he is IMO talking about how people don't really love God. I don't think it is necessarily referring specifically to unbelievers, because he later says "the faithless" which seprates them from the other groups. I think he is saying that: even places that proclaim to be in tribute to you(Zion, Babylon, America) don't really love you but rather they worship you to meet an end. I think part of the meaning of this song can be found on other tracks on this album.
I like most of your interpretation, though i'm not sure if I agree with you about what's being insinuated by the question to God.
I like most of your interpretation, though i'm not sure if I agree with you about what's being insinuated by the question to God.
Just one note though: Zion, Babylon and America shouldn't be put in the same category. In the Hebrew Bible, Zion and Babylon are opposites... Babylon is the oppressive, dominating empire that is against God (along with Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Greece, Rome etc). Zion is supposed to be an alternative nation/city living differently to the other nations - God set Israel free from slavery in Egypt and they're supposed to live different, to live God's way... But in practice of course, they usually fail... Zion isn't much better at loving God than Babylon is...
America on the other hand, well it's actually interesting how he then adds America and leaves it up to the listener to decide whether America is being juxtaposed to Babylon or Zion. Obviously the US is often claimed to be a "Christian nation" - so some would see it as Zion - supposedly serving God, but in practice failing to do so. But in terms of the US' position in the world, it's more the modern-day equivalent of Babylon.
I think the reason he used all 3 would be to show the opposites and the middle, the so called "christian nation" that is full of sin.
I think the reason he used all 3 would be to show the opposites and the middle, the so called "christian nation" that is full of sin.
Like I posted on a few others commenters, I think he is coming to grips with breaking from religion and doing so by mocking God.
Like I posted on a few others commenters, I think he is coming to grips with breaking from religion and doing so by mocking God.