I would really have to agree with you, optimus..prime. I think Dave is writing these lyrics from the perspective of Jesus dying on the cross. There are Dave's own thoughts interwoven here too, and I don't know to what extent it is him talking or him talking as Jesus.
There are definitely moments where as Jesus, he is voicing his doubts. "Holding, I'm holding, I'm still falling, I'm still falling" is Jesus wondering why he is there, why he is the one that had to bear this burden for mankind. "Forgive you why - you hung me out to dry." It's just the thoughts that Jesus likely went through as blood oozed from him and he was in so much agony and even after that there are people taunting him. These are the people I am supposed to die for? "Could Dad be God?" After all he has been through he is doubting his faith, doubting he is the son of God, maybe doubting his sanity - "Maybe I'm crazy." Surely if he was God, he could come down from the cross like those that were taunting him said he could do.
I think Alanis's part is equally as beautiful. "From time to time, minutes and hours some, move ahead while some lag behind." Jesus is there on the cross, likely blacking out at times, praying to God, thinking he made a mistake. He is in pain and again, he doesn't know if it is worth it. At times hours might pass in the blink of an eye but then he feels the pain and the minutes just drag. "This drop of hope that falls from his eyes." I think it is simply blood and tears. The longer he hangs there, the more he has probably convinced himself that his thoughts from the entire song are true. He is not the son of God, he has been hung out to dry. Even the way Alanis sings her part is beautiful and haunting. To me the pause after "minutes and hours some," is even a meaning. He is gasping for breath, probably running out of tears to cry.
And then the reprise of Last Stop. God is telling him to come in from the rain, you are home now. Despite all his doubts he did the right thing, dad was God.
To say Dave is agnostic and wouldn't write a religious song or anything like that is crazy. Just because he has his doubts or does not know everything he believes does not mean he can't write a song about God or have some faith.
This song is indeed beautiful, even on a level above
I would really have to agree with you, optimus..prime. I think Dave is writing these lyrics from the perspective of Jesus dying on the cross. There are Dave's own thoughts interwoven here too, and I don't know to what extent it is him talking or him talking as Jesus.
There are definitely moments where as Jesus, he is voicing his doubts. "Holding, I'm holding, I'm still falling, I'm still falling" is Jesus wondering why he is there, why he is the one that had to bear this burden for mankind. "Forgive you why - you hung me out to dry." It's just the thoughts that Jesus likely went through as blood oozed from him and he was in so much agony and even after that there are people taunting him. These are the people I am supposed to die for? "Could Dad be God?" After all he has been through he is doubting his faith, doubting he is the son of God, maybe doubting his sanity - "Maybe I'm crazy." Surely if he was God, he could come down from the cross like those that were taunting him said he could do.
I think Alanis's part is equally as beautiful. "From time to time, minutes and hours some, move ahead while some lag behind." Jesus is there on the cross, likely blacking out at times, praying to God, thinking he made a mistake. He is in pain and again, he doesn't know if it is worth it. At times hours might pass in the blink of an eye but then he feels the pain and the minutes just drag. "This drop of hope that falls from his eyes." I think it is simply blood and tears. The longer he hangs there, the more he has probably convinced himself that his thoughts from the entire song are true. He is not the son of God, he has been hung out to dry. Even the way Alanis sings her part is beautiful and haunting. To me the pause after "minutes and hours some," is even a meaning. He is gasping for breath, probably running out of tears to cry.
And then the reprise of Last Stop. God is telling him to come in from the rain, you are home now. Despite all his doubts he did the right thing, dad was God.
To say Dave is agnostic and wouldn't write a religious song or anything like that is crazy. Just because he has his doubts or does not know everything he believes does not mean he can't write a song about God or have some faith.
This song is indeed beautiful, even on a level above