To me, this song is somewhat sarcastic towards religion. He says "in this age of grand illusion" to represent his true feelings, I think. The song appears to be a tribute to God, but as another person pointed out in the comments, David is not exactly humble in the song as one would be if they were really giving themselves to God. It also seems like he is trying to say all the things one is supposed to say and do all the things one is supposed to do to have faith, but it's all really tongue in cheek. I see the last part as a challenge, "Do I fit into your scheme of things?" If not, too bad, because I still care for myself. And the part about "Just because I believe doesn't mean I don't think," is an obvious contradiction and mockery of the blind faith position; if you believe in an illusion, are you really thinking?
I also always thought he said at the beginning, "I don't need another chain," referring more to a lover than to a God. And he says, "you walked into my life," which to me suggests a human being, since God wouldn't "walk." The "sweet name" is a lover, and maybe they've had a quarrel about faith at some point. However, the religion he's really converted to is love, not Christianity or another organized religion. So yeah, although that's a jumbled up (and possibly wrong) interpretation, when I heard the song I always thought it was about thinking you needed faith and finding love instead.
Oh yeah, and how has everyone missed, "It's safer than a strange land, but I still care for myself." Again, that's a loaded line. He's saying faith is safer than being on earth alone (which is the strange land), but at the same time he cares for himself too much to just recklessly throw his faith and belief into an illusion. And this is his "prayer," which intentionally challenges God's scheme of things. David has his own.
The prayer and the word on a wing, while they would initially suggest some hopes floating up to heaven in a fragile way, to me always represented the feeling of love and commitment. All you can give are these fragile words, on a wing, because you feel like you are flying so high above everything when you're in love. And getting down on one knee, to me that's a marriage more than an actual prayer. I could just be seeing what I want to see; that happens from time to time.
@asSTARSfallx My take on Word on a Wing is that it's genuine, however David didn't quite feel comfortable asking for help from anyone, let alone a higher power. I love it's desperation and raw-ness.
Now I find "Loving The Alien" to be a bit more sarcastic toward religion
@asSTARSfallx My take on Word on a Wing is that it's genuine, however David didn't quite feel comfortable asking for help from anyone, let alone a higher power. I love it's desperation and raw-ness.
Now I find "Loving The Alien" to be a bit more sarcastic toward religion
To me, this song is somewhat sarcastic towards religion. He says "in this age of grand illusion" to represent his true feelings, I think. The song appears to be a tribute to God, but as another person pointed out in the comments, David is not exactly humble in the song as one would be if they were really giving themselves to God. It also seems like he is trying to say all the things one is supposed to say and do all the things one is supposed to do to have faith, but it's all really tongue in cheek. I see the last part as a challenge, "Do I fit into your scheme of things?" If not, too bad, because I still care for myself. And the part about "Just because I believe doesn't mean I don't think," is an obvious contradiction and mockery of the blind faith position; if you believe in an illusion, are you really thinking?
I also always thought he said at the beginning, "I don't need another chain," referring more to a lover than to a God. And he says, "you walked into my life," which to me suggests a human being, since God wouldn't "walk." The "sweet name" is a lover, and maybe they've had a quarrel about faith at some point. However, the religion he's really converted to is love, not Christianity or another organized religion. So yeah, although that's a jumbled up (and possibly wrong) interpretation, when I heard the song I always thought it was about thinking you needed faith and finding love instead.
Oh yeah, and how has everyone missed, "It's safer than a strange land, but I still care for myself." Again, that's a loaded line. He's saying faith is safer than being on earth alone (which is the strange land), but at the same time he cares for himself too much to just recklessly throw his faith and belief into an illusion. And this is his "prayer," which intentionally challenges God's scheme of things. David has his own.
The prayer and the word on a wing, while they would initially suggest some hopes floating up to heaven in a fragile way, to me always represented the feeling of love and commitment. All you can give are these fragile words, on a wing, because you feel like you are flying so high above everything when you're in love. And getting down on one knee, to me that's a marriage more than an actual prayer. I could just be seeing what I want to see; that happens from time to time.
@asSTARSfallx My take on Word on a Wing is that it's genuine, however David didn't quite feel comfortable asking for help from anyone, let alone a higher power. I love it's desperation and raw-ness. Now I find "Loving The Alien" to be a bit more sarcastic toward religion
@asSTARSfallx My take on Word on a Wing is that it's genuine, however David didn't quite feel comfortable asking for help from anyone, let alone a higher power. I love it's desperation and raw-ness. Now I find "Loving The Alien" to be a bit more sarcastic toward religion