Relient K- “Collapsible Lung”
review
Let me
say a few things to preface this deal. I LOVE Relient K! I have been a fan of
this band since its first major label album in 2000 and I still am. I have seen
them in concert a couple of times and I’d LOVE to go see them play again. I
LOVE all the albums and this one is certainly no exception. In short, I LOVE
this album. This is an incredibly honest view of society today, of love and
values and perhaps also a reflection of the spiritual journey the lead singer’s
been through lately. As a rule, Matt Thiessen has most always written songs
based on his own experiences and I would say that may well be what the songs on
this album represent.
In keeping with the last album
released, no lyrics are included with the actual CD release. (Bummer- but oh
well.) For those who don’t have the benefit of having the physical CD release,
let me note a few things that may be of help to know. I know that the band
apparently got a lot of outside help on this album in co-writing songs and
such. I don’t know how much lyrics were brought in from outside writers or not,
but here’s the breakdown according to the CD.
“Don’t Blink” by Matthew Hoopes and Matthew Thiessen
“Boomerang” by Matthew Thiessen, Evan Bogart and Ari Levine
“Lost Boy” by Matthew Thiessen, Greg Wattenberg, Matt Musto, Derek Fuhrman
“If I Could Take You Home” by Matthew Thiessen, Matthew Hoopes, Fernando
Garribay
“Can’t Complain” by Matthew Thiessen, Brian Lee and Emily Wright
“Gloria” by Matthew Thiessen, Matthew Hoopes, Tim Pagnotta and Ari Levine
“PTL” by Matthew Thiessen, Caleb Owens and Matt Musto
“Disaster” by Matthew Thiessen
“When You Were My Baby” by Matthew Thiessen, Matthew Hoopes and Caleb Owens
“Sweeter” by Matthew Thiessen and Caleb Owens
“Collapsible Lung” by Matthew Thiessen and Matthew Hoopes
Once again, the band has a joint statement of thanks printed.
“We would like to thank God for the opportunity to make music. We would also
like to sincerely thank our friends, families & loved ones, as well as
every person involved in the making of this record.”
They still clearly thank God for all He has done and they clearly acknowledge
His presence and working in the songs as well. Let me also say this- Relient K
is still just a band and they’re just musicians trying to live their lives for
Christ. And they sometimes fail as we all do. Thank God for His grace given to
us through Jesus! So I don’t know all the details of all their lives and I
don’t stand in judgment on them. I’m not going to try to speculate on what may
or may not have been or is going on in their lives. I’m just going to try to
look for clues in the song lyrics and see what each may be driving at- I could
be wrong in my interpretation of course- and I certainly could be reading too
much into things- but here are the things I pick up from the “Collapsible Lung”
album. (I think it may be easiest to post the lyrics for each song for the
purposes of analysis, so that is what I will do with this.)
“Don’t Blink” – I like that this is the first song on the album. I think it
kicks things off well and perhaps is a throwback to where we left things at the
end of the “Forget and Not Slow Down” album. I view this song as a statement of
resolve; a song that makes a declarative statement- to forget and not slow
down- but at the same time- don’t blink because you might miss life along the
way. I think it’s perhaps also reflective of the singer’s plan to get back to
where he was in following God before and trust that His forgiveness and grace
will carry him forward once again.
The lyrics are telling-
“Don't
know where to go from here
My thoughts are tangled twisted fears
Been waiting a while now on the dawn
Seems like the sun may never come
I made my way through the darkest night
To the break of day on the other side
For some time the light's been creeping in
Now I'm feeling like I could trust again
You're the only Person who reminds me
Love is beautiful and true
Life is beautiful and new
Oh, You're the only Person who reminds me
Hold on now
Don't you blink or it's gone
I've been terrified of life for way too long
Oh, no now don't you blink or it's gone
In another life who knows what we'd become?
Love is beautiful and true
Life is beautiful and new
Been making plans and drawing maps
I plan to take the righteous path
And hope and pray it leads me back
To all the happiness I had
Been making lists and crossing off
Every kiss that wasn't love
And every word that stretched the truth
Like when she said she loved me
You're the only person who reminds me
Hold on now
Don't you blink or it's gone
I've been terrified of life for way too long
Oh, no now don't you blink or it's gone
In another life who knows what we'd become?
Hold on now
Don't you blink or it's gone
Oh oh oh oh
Oh, no now don't you blink or it's gone
In another life who knows what we'd become?
Love is beautiful and true
Life is beautiful and new
Been making lists and crossing off
Every kiss that wasn't love
And every word that stretched the truth
Like when she said she loved me”
-In the first two paragraphs, it is reminiscent to me of Psalms 23 –
“I made my way through the darkest night
To the break of day on the other side
For some time the light's been creeping in
Now I'm feeling like I could trust again”
- “Yea though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil
for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff- they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4)
Now, I could be off, but I really think this song (and album) is reflecting on
the singer’s attempts to find meaning, peace and security in human
relationships (particularly romantic boyfriend/girlfriend relationships)- and
finding that even the best of human relationships fails. I think this is a song
where he’s coming back to God and finding the incredibly true and hopeful
realization that- after everyone else fails and abandons me- “You’re the only
Person who reminds me Love is beautiful and true
Life is beautiful and new -Oh, You're the only Person who reminds me.” And of
course, Jesus is Love. And He is beautiful and true and new. He’s the only One
who can really give us true love and true life. Then we have an exhortation to
hold on and not blink- but rather enjoy life because “The Lord giveth and The
Lord taketh away- may The Name of The Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21) “In another
life, who knows what we’d become?” –I think this line could work either way-
possibly a reference to the new eternal life we’ll have with Jesus in Heaven,
but also a reference to another life path where we walk with Jesus at the
forefront of our relationship- and we could have a much better relationship
with Him there in the center.
“Been making plans and drawing maps
I plan to take the righteous path
And hope and pray it leads me back
To all the happiness I had
Been making lists and crossing off
Every kiss that wasn't love
And every word that stretched the truth
Like when she said she loved me”
-Love these lines! I think this is
where we see the singer’s resolve to “take the righteous path” – the one that
leads to life instead of the broad one that leads to death. (See Matthew 7.)
And he hopes and prays it will lead him back to all the happiness he had. And
because of 1 John 1:9, we know that God is always willing to forgive us and
take us back when we truly come to Him in repentance and confess our sins to
Him- I think the close relationship with God is “the happiness” the singer had
and taking “the righteous path” will definitely lead him back to it. I love
that he is also casting off falsehood- including every kiss that wasn’t love
and every word that stretched the truth. None of these women that he had
shallow relationships with truly loved him- but the God who loved the whole
world so much that He gave us Jesus to die on the cross and rise again to pay
for our sins- still loves him dearly- and He’s the only One who truly loves him
the most.
So I see this song as a hopeful
declaration of resolve- a song of trust in Jesus. :-)
“Boomerang”- Now from this part of the album forward- this
is where many people seem to have so many questions about the intent and
meaning of the songs. However, I don’t hear anything sexually explicit or
objectionable for that reason in these songs. And here is a key other thing I
don’t hear in any of these songs- I don’t hear any of them advocating any of
the things we know are wrong in these songs. If anything, they should serve as
cautionary tales- just like when we read about King David and his adultery with
Bathsheba, which led to his subsequent murder of her husband Uriah. (1 Kings
11) In fact, I would say one of the overriding themes of this album is, “Don’t
make the same mistakes that I did- learn from what happened to me and make the
right choices.” Look through this whole album and notice how many times the
singer indicates that what he was doing was wrong and that he shouldn’t have
been doing it (and neither should you.) With that in mind, let’s look at the rest of
the songs.
“Hey, I try to run away
But everywhere I turn, I turn around
And you're right back in my face
And everything you say
I can't get away from you
I just can't escape
Cause you're at my favorite bar
Your hoodie's in my car
The smell of your Chanel 5 won't die hard
Yeah I don't stand a chance
You're hanging with my friends
When I see you again that's when it starts
We break just like it ain't no thing
But we ridin' on a boomerang
Our love is like a rubber band
Snap back, snap back
Here we go again
Snap back, snap back
Here we go again
Snap back, snap back
Here we go again
Hey, already on the way
End up at your place when I should be driving home
Girl what was I thinking
Girl what was I drinking
Trying to tell myself that it can't be wrong
You were at my favorite bar
Your hoodie's in my car
The smell of your Chanel 5 won't die hard
Yeah I don't stand a chance
You're hanging with my friends
When I see you again that's when it starts
We break just like it ain't no thing
But we ridin' on a boomerang
Our love is like a rubber band
Snap back, snap back
Here we go again
Snap back, snap back
Here we go again
Snap back, snap back
Here we go again
We break just like it ain't no thing
But we ridin' on a boomerang
Our love is like a rubber band
Snap back, snap back
Here we go again
We break just like it ain't no thing
But we ridin' on a boomerang
Our love is like a rubber band
Snap back, snap back
Here we go again
We break just like it ain't no thing
But we ridin' on a boomerang
Our love is like a rubber band
Snap back, snap back
Here we go again”
-I think the chorus is the
main kicker on this one. When you’re “riding on a boomerang” and your love “is
like a rubber band” always snapping back- that’s not a good picture of love.
Love is true and faithful. (See 1 Corinthians 13). It always perseveres and
never fails.
But let’s be honest- her good looks are alluring. Her perfume- her clothes-
everything about her. She’s hanging at the singer’s favorite hang-out with his
friends. But then the singer says, “End up at your place when I should be
driving home. Girl, what was I thinking? What was I drinking? – Trying to tell
myself it can’t be wrong.”
He knows he shouldn’t be doing it- but yet he finds himself drawn in anyway
(since “he can’t escape”.) And so he’s giving in- but he’s aware of the
situation enough to know that it’s wrong and know that their love that keeps
snapping back and forth is not a picture of real love.
(One last caveat on this, since it comes up again and is a sticking point for
many Christians- yes, I wish he wasn’t drinking too-in general, I don’t think
it’s a good idea. However, Jesus drank wine with His disciples- in fact, his
first miracle recorded was turning water into wine. I choose to be a teetotaler
myself- but I can’t judge anyone who chooses to imbibe. The Bible doesn’t say
it’s wrong to drink alcohol- in fact, it even seems to encourage it in some
places. (Proverbs 30 and 1 Timothy 5:23) However, The Bible does says that
getting drunk is a sin- Ephesians 5:18.) So drink if you choose to do so- but
don’t be a bad example or stumbling block for Christian brothers or
unbelievers. And if you don’t believe in drinking- don’t judge those who choose
to do so because of their freedom in Christ!) And again- he never advocates
drinking in any case- but at least he’s honest enough to say this is the state
he was at in the song- and from the context of the songs, he was probably using
drinking to help heal the hurt in his heart- again, a hurt that only the Holy
Ghost can heal.
“Lost Boy”-
Wow! The title alone evokes
metaphorical references. And yes- I certainly have to mention Jesus’ parable of
The Prodigal Son in Luke 15. (Remember that this parable comes after Christ’s parable
of the lost sheep and the lost coin- and thus, this parable is also sometimes
referred to as “The Lost Son”.) I think this is yet another startingly honest
admittance- the singer was lost, having strayed off the narrow path. And he
needed the Shepherd of our souls to pull him back to the righteous path.
“You had a baby you were seventeen years old
I was on the road trying to make it my home
You had a man but he wasn't no good to ya
I was with women I didn't know
Foot loose, Fancy free
Pretty lady won't you dance with me
'Cause one look from your eyes and
I knew that it was right this time
Before you came around
I couldn't figure out
Where I was going
I was wandering wandering
Wandering around
Before I found my way
I was running like a stray
And I was a lost boy
Just a lost boy
Before you came around
Sweet country baby you were singing at the airport
Raking in tips with the heel of your boot
I must have passed you by a hundred times
Before cupid saw it fit to let me dance with you
Foot loose, fancy free
Pretty lady won't you dance with me
'Cause one look from your eyes and
I knew that it was right this time
Before you came around
I couldn't figure out
Where I was going
I was wandering wandering
Wandering around
Before I found my way
I was running like a stray
And I was a lost boy
Just a lost boy
Before you came around
I was a lost boy
Just a lost boy
Before you came around
I couldn't figure out
Where I was going
I was wandering wandering
Wandering around
Before I found my way
I was running like a stray
And I was a lost boy
Just a lost boy
Before you came around
Before you came around
Before you came around
-Notice again that the
singer freely admits he was “with women he didn’t know”. And though perhaps he
thought this girl was the one and maybe he truly thought she was the right one,
I get the feeling that he was left with disappointment once again. Of course, I
also get the feeling that the chorus repeated the last time could be read as a
statement to God- a statement of our lostness before He came around and found
us. That’s a vulnerable statement to make- but a necessary one in our road to
recovery and restoration and reconciliation with God.
“If I Could Take You Home”
-Here we have a song where the singer recounts yet another disappoint in
relationships. And it seems like he’s saying though she’s his Katherine, he’ll
be her Petruchio and tame her. After all, “if he could take you home”- then
things would be different. Perhaps he could try to “be all that she needs”- but
is she really all that he needs?
“I hear the words that you're telling me
Taking about all this tragedy
You've got everything
When you're close to me
You're all around
You're surrounding me
Intoxicated by the air you breathe
You've got everything
With me
Oh oh
Like broken pieces of a shattered dream
Or like a movie with a missing scene
You'd like you believe
I'm nothing special
But if I could take you home
If I could take you home
If I could take you home
I'll be all that you need
The trail of broken hearts you left behind
Should send me running girl
But I don't mind
It's not up to me
Where you sleep
oh oh
But you're so good at making casualties
Inflicting pain rather casually
It's easy to see
You'd do it to me
Oh oh
Like broken pieces of a shattered dream
Or like a movie with a missing scene
You'd like to believe
I'm nothing special
But if I could take you home
If I could take you home
If I could take you home
I'll be all that you need
If I could take you home (Oh whoa oh)
If I could take you home (Oh whoa oh)
If I could take you home (Oh whoa oh)
Oh whoa oh
You think I'm nothing special
But if I could take you home (Oh whoa oh)
Oh whoa oh
Oh whoa oh
Oh whoa oh
Oh whoa oh
If I could take you home
If I could take it slow(Oh whoa oh)
If I could let you know
If I could make you see
That I'll be all that you need (Oh whoa oh)
Oh whoa oh
You think I'm nothing special
But If I could take you home
If I could take you home
If I could take you home
I'll be all that you need
If I could take you home (Oh whoa oh)
If I could take it slow (Oh whoa oh)
If I could let you know (Oh whoa oh)
Oh whoa oh
You think I'm nothing special
But If I could take you home (Oh whoa oh)
Oh whoa oh
I'll be all that you need (Oh whoa oh)”
-I think it’s worth noting
that the singer acknowledges that it’s “not up to him where she sleeps”. He
even admits that she “inflicts pain so casually” and “leaves a trail of broken
hearts behind her”. And on top of that- “she thinks he’s nothing special”. So
why is he so wanting to take her home again? The false bravado and swagger here
belies to me both a bit of naivete and some optimism that somehow he can be the
one to make it work. Another song that seems destined to end in failure.
“Can’t Complain”
-Now this one is particularly
interesting to me. On the surface, it seems to be conveying a Biblical message-
and I would definitely agree with that part. “Do everything without complaining
or arguing.” (Philippians 2:14) “Don’t worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will
worry about itself.” (Jesus in Matthew 6). “Teach us to number the days aright,
Lord.” (see Psalms 90:12)
There are a lot of other verses I could mention as well. This is a good,
Biblical message in general in itself. However, maybe there’s something deeper
past the surface…
“Looking at the cop in the rear view mirror
Probably should have stopped but the crosswalk was clear
I'll just imagine it's a ticket to a Broadway show
Looking at the clouds and they seem kinda funny
Probably gonna rain but my outlook is sunny
I'll just imagine that I'm laying out in Mexico
Cause I know that pleasures gotta come with pain
And I know that things won't always go my way
And I know that life is gonna suck some days
But I can't complain
I can't complain
Every days too short to let it go to waste
Now I can't complain
I can't complain
You gotta treat every day like a holiday
And I'm telling you
That I know some days I'm gonna stumble
And I know the cookie's gonna crumble
And I know that life is gonna suck some days
But I can't complain
Waiting on a never ending train at the crossing
Paying it no mind cause you just keep talking
We'll just imagine it's the good old days and take it slow
Spending Christmas Eve on the floor of the airport
Dying to get back to the people that I care for
Smiling just dreaming about my puppy in my bed back home
Cause I know that pleasures gotta come with pain
And I know that things won't always go my way
And I know that life is gonna suck some days
But I can't complain
I can't complain
Every days too short to let it go to waste
Now I can't complain
I can't complain
You gotta treat every day like a holiday
And I'm telling you
That I know some days I'm gonna stumble
And I know the cookie's gonna crumble
And I know that life is gonna suck some days
If you can't say nothing good
Don't say nothing
If you stop to think you could come up with something
That makes you feel so good when times are rough it's ok
I can't complain
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Don't let it go to waste
Now I can't complain
I can't complain
Every days too short to let it go to waste
Now I can't complain
I can't complain
You gotta treat every day like a holiday
And I'm telling you
That I know some days I'm gonna stumble
And I know the cookie's gonna crumble
And I know that life is gonna suck some days
But I can't complain”
-Well, in general it sounds like an optimistic tune to me and I like that.
However, it could also be a tone of noncommital acceptance- something that says
that things in life are going to just happen- and we can’t do anything about
them- so we should just accept things with a shrug and a smile and move on.
This amounts to a lackadaisical attitude to me and I don’t think that’s right. Don’t
just accept that life has to be the way it is, full of personal failures and
relationship disappointments. Jesus can put all of those relationships right!
Don’t turn to apathy- turn to Him!
(Also, this song unfortunately uses a word I don’t like to use in that capacity
and I’m sure you know which I mean. I wish they hadn’t but I know a number of
people don’t find it to be such a bad word- and certainly not nearly on the
level of a curse word. I’m not saying that it is- but I am saying that I wish
they had used a word like “stink” instead- which conveys the same meaning
without possible sexual connotations- of course, perhaps it’s appropriate for
this album, in that case.)
“Gloria”
-Relient K showcases its trademark wit in this song. And what a great sense of
irony! The word “gloria” itself is used in the title of two classic Christian
songs- hymns of praise. (“Gloria in Excelsis Deo” [i.e. Glory to God in the
highest] and “Gloria Patri”. [“Glory be to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”] And this Gloria isn’t
living up to her name in giving God glory with the way she lives her life,
particularly in this relationship.
I
never know whatcha
You're keeping me in the dark
You've got your fast moves and
You've got your one two's and
I could never let down my guard
You say you can never do better than me
Aye gloria what's come over ya
Why don't you teach me how to
Why don't you teach me how to love
Why don't you show me what's up
I got the shakes and your my drug
Why don't you teach me how to
Why don't you teach me how to fight
Cause when you're wrong you're always right
You've got a lot of nerve, I've got a lot to learn
Why don't you teach me how to
Why don't you teach me how to love
Telling lies, swatting kisses like their flies
Doing everything I can to survive
Keep me in the cold, raking me over the coals
You either freeze me or burn me alive
Cause You say you can never do better than me
Aye gloria, I'm kinda sore would ya
Why don't you keep me up
Why don't you teach me how to love
Why don't you show me what's up
I got the shakes and your my drug
Why don't you teach me how to
Why don't you teach me how to fight
Cause when you're wrong you're always right
You've got a lot of nerve, I've got a lot to learn
Why don't you teach me how to
Why don't you teach me how to love
I guess it's love, flower petals everywhere
I guess it's love, runnin' fingers through your hair
I guess it's love when you tell me what to wear
I guess it's love when you're goin' through my phone
I guess it's love when I can't go out alone
I guess it's love when you got me feelin' low
Why don't you teach me how to
Why don't you show me how to
Why don't you teach me how to
Why don't you teach me how to love
Why don't you show me what's up
I got the shakes and your my drug
Why don't you teach me how to
Why don't you teach me how to fight
Cause when you're wrong you're always right
You've got a lot of nerve, I've got a lot to learn
Why don't you show me how to
Why don't you teach me how to
Why don't you show me how to
Why don't you teach me how to love”
-I think the key to
understanding this song is knowing that it’s meant to be sarcastic.
Gloria is “telling lies” and “keeping
him in the dark”. Yet “she’s his drug”. So it must be love when she’s
controlling and not trusting (going through his phone) and keeping him feeling
low. The song at that point is really an antithesis of the picture of love God
paints in 1 Corinthians 13.
This song showcases yet another relationship that is definitely not real love.
“PTL”
-Again we have a song title that seems
to evoke Christian imagery. “PTL” is a fairly common abbreviation in many
Christian denominations for “Praise The Lord”. I kinda wonder if both this and
the last song title are meant to be ironic.
“There was a time when I was scared of nothing
Nothing can touch you if you don't look back
I walked away from every good thing that I had
By the time I met you it was 12 past midnight
Told you I'd be the best you never had
You said "Are you serious?"
I said like a heart attack
But it was far too late before I figured it out.
I never meant to be your, I never meant to be your
One night, one mistake.
I never meant to be your part-time lover
Then again I've never been a full-time man
Never thought it'd hurt so bad to see you with another
Guess I'm the fool that ya, ya think I am
I never called you like I know I should of
Thought I could save you for a rainy day
I bet the sun was shining when I let you slip away
But it was far too late before I figured it out
I bet the sun was shining, I never meant to be your
One night, one mistake
I never meant to be your part-time lover
Then again I've never been a full-time man
Never thought it'd hurt so bad to see you with another
Guess I'm the fool that ya, ya think I am
I never meant to be your part-time lover (part-time lover)
Then again I've never been a full-time man
Never thought it'd hurt so bad to see you with another
Guess I'm the fool that ya (Guess I'm the fool that ya)
I never meant to be your part-time lover
Then again I've never been a full-time man
Never thought it'd hurt so bad to see you with another
Guess I'm the fool that ya, ya think I am
I never meant to be your fool
I never meant to be your fool
I walked away from every good thing that I had”
- We can clearly see some of Matt Thiessen’s classic wordplay lyrics in the
chorus here. “I never meant to be your part-time lover- Then again I’ve never
been a full-time man”….
And then the singer goes on to admit that he guesses “he’s the fool that she
thinks he is.” He “never meant to be her one night, one mistake.” And it hurts
when he realizes that the relationship is not what he thought it was- it isn’t
the committed full time thing he wants, especially when he “sees her with
another”. And once again, he notes that he “walked away from every good thing
that he had.”
But as David sought the restoration of his relationship with The Lord in Psalms
51 (and received it)- the singer can still walk back to his good relationship
with The Lord as well- and of course, “every good thing” and “every perfect
gift” comes from above- from The Lord. (as James 1:17 tells us.)
“Disaster”
-Okay, I don’t know how much more clear the theme can be made than in this
title. The singer clearly says that his relationship with this girl “has
disaster written all over it.” It’s a very honest confession here in this song.
“I was spending all my time
falling in love
Should’ve known better, but it's so much fun when I'm with you
And there’s a missing person poster hanging up at the bar
Cause I, I've got a girl
I think we're in love
But oh for how long
It's got disaster written all over
So don't nobody show her
Our horoscope headline- disaster
Written all over it
Oh you didn't no no you didn't
Did you pull out the wires make a man out of me
I'm trying to figure out if life’s worth living without you
Hope I never have to
The stars could align or explode in the sky
Oh disaster
Baby, you look so sexy so what do I do when
We get home from church and the baby
Is in her room sleeping or watching a movie
You get closer to me
Oh this has disaster written all over it
I'm trying to figure out if life’s worth living without you
Hope I never have to
The stars could align or explode in the sky
If I already know about all the things that would bring us down
Then I'd react a bit faster
I'm averting disaster one day at a time
Disaster, disaster, disaster, disaster.
Won't you pull out the wires make a man out of me
I'm trying to figure out if life’s worth living without you
Hope I never have to
It could be disaster if I don't even try
If I already know about all the things that would bring us down
Then I'd react a bit faster
I'm averting disaster one day at a time
Disaster, disaster, disaster, disaster
-So even though the singer and this girl are still going to church, they’re
coming home to a baby that may have been born out of wedlock. (That part isn’t
exactly clear.) What is clear is that the singer says that the whole thing is a
disaster. He’s trying to “avert it by reacting a bit faster”. That way, he can
“avert disaster one day at a time”. Interestingly, he says he “spent all his
time falling in love”. And once he found this girl, now “there’s a missing
person poster hanging up at the bar”. So he goes from drowning his sorrows in
beer to drowning his sorrows in a relationship with this girl- and he comes to
the conclusion that it’s a disaster. When he’s “trying to figure out if life’s
worth living without her” and “hopes he never has to”- I wonder if this line
might also be reflective of trying to live life without God- and the answer is that nothing really
satisfies without God. In fact, life without God is just a disaster. (see Psalms
32).
“When You Were My Baby”
-We have here a song of lament, where the singer sadly recalls how good things
were “when she was his baby”- when he had a good relationship with this girl
and everything felt right. I think this song is simply a song of lament for the
good relationship he had when things were right with him and his girl and his
God.
“I still remember what happened
Yeah, I know right where I was
The sky was looking overcast
On the outskirts of love
That's when you said keep on driving
Although the sun's gonna set
You said you had to see how far we could take this
Yeah, how far we could get
When you were my baby
Whoa-oh
Must've done something to change me
Whoa-oh
Cause nothing ever seemed to faze me
Till tonight
Thinking when you were my baby and the whole wide world was mine
I woke up this morning
Aching for you
Roll over, try to sleep it off
Till late afternoon
They say that it's better
If you love and lost
Maybe if I stay away from you
I'd be better off now
When you were my baby
Whoa-oh
Must've done something to change me
Whoa-oh
Cause nothing ever seemed to faze me
Till tonight
Thinking when you were my baby and the whole wide world was
Spinning around us
Trouble never found us
Wish I had it now
But the whole wide world
It never beams bright and
Never feels as right and
It's killing me tonight just thinking
When you were my baby
Whoa-oh
Must've done something to change me
Whoa-oh
Cause nothing ever seemed to faze me
Till tonight
Thinking when you were my baby the world
When you were my baby
Whoa-oh
Must've done something to change me
Whoa-oh
It never seemed to faze me
Till tonight
Thinking when you were my baby and the whole wide world was”
- I notice that “the whole wide world never beams bright and never feels as
right”- when she is no longer the singer’s baby. Back then, “nothing seemed to
faze him”, but now he’s having to face life without her. And again, we have a
reminder of the emptiness of basing all your happiness and joy on a romantic
relationship with a girl. Only God truly satisfies. (Psalms 42).
“Sweeter”
-This song really says it pretty well and plainly. The singer sings about this
girl that is sweeter than sugar but still leaves a sour taste in your mouth.
The problem is- the singer can’t see “the trouble he’s in” with this girl. And
once again, we are reminded that a wrong relationship will just bring us
heartache in the end.
“She looks good in your
clothes
Climbing up the staircase
Back to bed you go again
Even when her eyes are closed
Can't keep from staring
Oh, the trouble you got in
She's a memory
She's an apparition,
Fogging up my vision
But I don't pay no mind
She's sweeter than sugar
Till the sun goes down
Don't allow her to sour
Just spit her out
Believe me, she will leave a bad taste in your mouth
Can't drink enough to wash her down
Wonder if she knows
That I know where she goes
When she says she's with her friends
Yeah, everything grows old
Can't try to stop it
All comes to a bitter end
But I don't pay no mind
She's sweeter than sugar
Till the sun goes down
Don't allow her to sour
Just spit her out
Believe me, she'll leave a bad taste in your mouth
Can't drink enough to wash her down
Wash her down
She's a memory
She's an apparition,
Fogging up my vision
But I don't pay no mind
She's sweeter than sugar
Till the sun goes down
Don't allow her to sour
Just spit her out
Believe me, she'll leave a bad taste in your mouth
Can't drink enough to wash her down
Wash her down”
-I think it’s interesting that the singer says “she’s an apparition fogging up
my vision”. (Particularly since he makes a specific reference to The Holy Ghost
in the following song- perhaps this is a comparison of the girl to another
spirit- but here representing an evil spirit, rather than The Holy Spirit. I
don’t mean to demonize the girl here, but just to make the comparison regarding
the unBiblical relationship.) “Don’t allow her to sour- just spit her out.
Believe me, she’ll leave a bad taste in your mouth- Can’t drink enough to wash
her down.” Here we have a clear warning from the singer to stay away from such
women and such relationships that don’t conform to the rules for sexuality that
God set down in His Word. (Again, the drinking issue comes up here, but to be
fair- that doesn’t have to refer to alcohol. Even if it does, it’s still true-
you can’t drink enough alcohol to wash her down- or to remedy the heart
situation.) The phrasing saying “she’ll leave a bad taste in your mouth” also
brings to mind this truth from The Bible- “Bread
obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.” (Proverbs
20:17)
“Collapsible Lung”
-Here we have the conclusion of the matter. This last track on the
album echoes the resolve of the first track (“Don’t Blink”). It’s a song of
confession asking for God to extend His grace once more again. It’s an
acknowledgement of how much we all need God and how nothing else really
satisfies without Him.
“Between the miles of open road
I lost sight of what might matter the most
I stumbled into the great unknown and found
That time won't slow down
I'm getting by with my collapsible lung
And it's a good time 100% of the time
And I'm like a ladder with a missing rung
And it's a slow climb headed back to the sky
And I'm feelin' backwards when I'm trying the most
And I hope haven't heard the last words from The Holy Ghost
Cause I think that I'm supposed to be
Well on my way by now
I'll do the twist with my replaceable hips
And turn you right round
Then dip you down to the ground
And now I wanna grow old and rub your tired limbs
And take it easy
Until we wither away
Until we wither away
Between the miles of open road
I lost sight of what might matter the most
I stumbled into the great unknown and found
That time can't slow down
To take a breath and then take it in
To think of places I'll go I haven't been
To pour my heart into everything I've found
Time won't slow down
Feelin' backwards
And I hope haven't heard the last words
No, no, no
Cause I think that I'm supposed to be
Well on my way-eh-eh!
Eh eh!
Wooo'
To pour my heart into everything I found
Between the miles of open road
I lost sight of what might matter the most
I stumbled into the great unknown and found
That time won't slow down
To take a breath and then take it in
To think of places I'll go I haven't been”
-“Between the miles of open
road”, the singer “stumbled into the great unknown” and “found that time won’t
slow down”. Along the way, he “lost sight of what might matter the most”. I
think this is a confession of how he fell away from God- from Who really
matters the most. He’s “getting by with his collapsible lung”- an
acknowledgement of the frailty of human beings. (Psalms 8). And though “it’s a
slow climb back to the sky”- back to God- he keeps pressing on, even though
he’s “feeling backwards when he’s trying the most”- and he “hopes he hasn’t
heard the last words from The Holy Ghost”. He concludes that he “thinks he’s
supposed to be well on his way by now.” When he mentions the part about “doing
the twist with his replaceable hips”, I think he’s now talking about the image
of a relationship he really wants to have- a lifelong commitment of marriage-
to have the woman beside him who is his wife, who he can “grow old with and rub
her tired limbs”- "until we wither away". (Until death do us part.). He wants “to pour his heart into everything he’s found”, “to
take a breath and then take it in” and “to think of places he’ll go he hasn’t
been”. I think this works on both the physical level as far as relationships
here on Earth go, but also on the spiritual level- to the places he’ll go in
his walk with Christ. That’s what really matters the most in both the first
place and end place.
- Here then is the crux of the entire album, I think. ”Vanity! Vanity!
Everything is vanity! Says the Preacher.” (Ecclesiastes 1:1). Everything is
meaningless- without God. “The conclusion, when all has
been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies
to every person. 14 For God will
bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or
evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
This whole album is like a musical version of Ecclesiastes in so many ways for
me. In the end, the singer is still holding to his faith in God and realizes
that the only real satisfaction comes from obeying God and following Him. And I
love the honesty of the musical journey that takes us to that point to realize
that. Amen! Only Jesus satisfies. :-)
“That’s My Jam”
-And for the deep spiritual meaning of this song…….um, I don’t think there is
any. It’s just plain fun! :-)
(Proverbs 12:25, 17:22)
“Turn up the record cause the song's just begun
I'm smashing pumpkins like it's November 1
Wish britney'd hit me one more time on the phone
So tired of counting crows with Mr. Jones
My sister hazel knows that it's all for you
Am I a blur or do you sing my song 2?
Ooh ooh ooh summertime
Ooh ooh ooh back in '99
Ooh ooh ooh ooh our first dance
Ooh ooh ooh that's my jam
Jane's addicted and Alice is in chains
U2 like to move me in mysterious ways
We're chasing waterfalls and wonder-walls
My jewel, you were meant for me so save my soul
Add seven Mary three plus 98 degrees
Eve 6 times 311, that's you and me
Ooh ooh ooh summertime
Ooh ooh ooh back in '99
Ooh ooh ooh ooh our first dance
Ooh ooh ooh that's my jam
This blessed union of collective souls
Is the only world we know
This heart-shaped candle box burns for you alone
You outta know
Ooh ooh ooh summertime
Ooh ooh ooh feelin' so sublime
Ooh ooh ooh ooh boy ii man
Ooh ooh ooh my pearl jam
Ooh ooh ooh summertime
Ooh ooh ooh back in '99
Ooh ooh ooh ooh take my hand
Ooh ooh ooh baby, you're my jam”
