“Dreamer” by Ozzy Osbourne

Down to Earth
Sony
2001

This is a song about the kingdom of God coming to earth. It communicates the narrator’s longing for God to save creation from destruction at the hands of ignorant and arrogant humans who rape the natural environment and oppress and murder each other.

Gazing through the window at the world outside

Wondering if mother earth will survive

Hoping that mankind will stop abusing her, sometime

After all there’s just the two of us

And here we are still fighting for our lives

Watching all of history repeat itself, time after time

I’m just a dreamer

I dream my life away

I’m just a dreamer

Who dreams of better days

I watch the sun go down like everyone of us

I’m hoping that the dawn will bring a sign

A better place for those who will come after us this time

I’m just a dreamer

I dream my life away

I’m just a dreamer

Who dreams of better days

Your higher power may be God or Jesus Christ

It doesn’t really matter much to me

Without each others help there ain’t no hope for us

I’m living in a dream, a fantasy

If only we could just find serenity

It would be nice if we could live as one

When will all this anger, hate and bigotry be gone?

I’m just a dreamer

I dream my life away, today

I’m just a dreamer

Who dreams of better days

I’m just a dreamer

Who’s searching for the way, today

I’m just a dreamer

Dreaming my life away

Interpretation:

Gazing through the window at the world outside

Wondering if mother earth will survive

Hoping that mankind will stop abusing her, sometime

This is a clear statement of environmental concern. The damage humans have done to the planet compels the narrator to reflect on the fate of our world. He considers that the earth may not survive what humans have done and continue to do to it.

After all there’s just the two of us

And here we are still fighting for our lives

Watching all of history repeat itself, time after time

The “two of us” (humans and the earth) are both “fighting for [their] lives” in that the earth is struggling to survive the damage done by humans and humans, who now realize the symbiotic relationship with the planet, are striving to curb this damage as a way of preserving their home. Humans are also “fighting for our lives” against the evil done to each other in war, slavery, and economic oppression. That “history repeat[s] itself” is evident to the narrator in the cycle of violence and tyranny filling our history books.

I’m just a dreamer

I dream my life away

I’m just a dreamer

Who dreams of better days

The narrator dreams of “better days” and spends his whole life imagining such a world. There is an environmental aspect to this dream—a world were humans respect and conserve the natural resources around us. There is also a social dimension—a world where history does not repeat itself but the evil things in our world are put away for good.

I watch the sun go down like everyone of us

I’m hoping that the dawn will bring a sign

A better place for those who will come after us this time

Continuing to reflect on the possible destruction of the environment and our depraved society, the narrator expands on his dream for “better days”. He compares the state of things to the setting sun. Darkness is lowering around us. He also wishes for a “better place” for successive generations. Much of what we do is unsustainable and leaves a great burden for communities in the future. The narrator dreams that we can alter our practices to ease this burden.

I’m just a dreamer

I dream my life away

I’m just a dreamer

Who dreams of better days

Your higher power may be God or Jesus Christ

It doesn’t really matter much to me

Without each others help there ain’t no hope for us

I’m living in a dream, a fantasy

The narrator calls down people who use religion (the “higher powers” of “God or Jesus Christ”) to sidestep their responsibility as caretakers of nature and to justify oppression. He says that only by working together can we overcome these problems. And yet the narrator laments that this seems unlikely and so he goes on living in a “fantasy” world.

If only we could just find serenity

It would be nice if we could live as one

When will all this anger, hate and bigotry be gone?

This stanza more fully describes what the narrator’s dream might look like. First, he dreams of “serenity”, or peace, the end of war and violence. Second, he dreams that “we could live as one” implying not just a harmonious relationship between humans and nature (referring back to the second stanza’s “two of us”), but also between all people. The things that divide us will be irrelevant as we live in unity. Finally, the narrator’s dream world will be free from anger, hate, and bigotry.

I’m just a dreamer

I dream my life away, today

I’m just a dreamer

Who dreams of better days

I’m just a dreamer

Who’s searching for the way, today

I’m just a dreamer

Dreaming my life away

Finally, the narrator says he is “searching for the way” to make these dreams a reality. This means he doesn’t know how to actualize those dreams, which produces the defeatist tone running throughout the song. The narrator knows what the end result should be but getting there is a mystery.

“Given to Fly” by Pearl Jam

Yield
Epic Records
1998

Jesus’ resurrection is the central theme of God’s kingdom. The original creation chose selfishness over God and tainted the perfect design. Since then God worked through the nation of Israel to prepare for Messiah, a decisive moment in history where the fullness of God manifest in Jesus broke into the world, defeated the power of death, and established the kingdom. This song is a description of Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and vindication.

He could have tuned in

Tuned in, but he tuned out

A bad time nothing could save him

Alone in a corridor, waiting, locked out

He got up outta there ran for

Hundreds of miles

He made it to the ocean

Had a smoke in a tree

The wind rose up set him

Down on his knee

A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw

Deliver him wings, “Hey look at me now!”

Arms wide open with the sea as his floor

Power. He's flying whole. High, wide

He floated back down

Cause he wanted to share

This key to the locks, on the chains

He saw everywhere

But first he was stripped

And then he was stabbed by faceless men

Well fuckers, he still stands

And he still gets his love

He just gives it away

The love he receives is the

Love that is saved

And sometimes is seen

A strange spot in the sky

A human being that was given to fly

I'm flying, oh. High flying, oh

He's flying, oh. High, oh, oh

Interpretation

He could have tuned in

Tuned in, but he tuned out

A bad time nothing could save him

As Jesus hung on the cross, onlookers challenged him to save himself. ‘Call angels to save you,’ they taunted. Though Jesus could have responded to the jeers of the mob (he could have “tuned in”), he knew the path he had to travel led through execution and he accepted it—“he tuned out”. He’d made his decision to drink this cup and would not allow himself to be saved.

Alone in a corridor, waiting, locked out

He got up outta there ran for

Hundreds of miles

He made it to the ocean

Had a smoke in a tree

The wind rose up set him

Down on his knee

This stanza pictures Jesus dying. Being “alone in a corridor” refers to his anguish on the cross, which causes him to cry out to God, ‘why have you forsaken me?’ Though the physical pain is great, it is the feeling of separation from God that truly hurts Jesus. As his body fails, Jesus’ soul gets “up outta there”; it leaves his body and runs for “hundreds of miles”. Jesus travels to Hades (“the ocean” is a Jewish image of death) and rests for a little while by having “a smoke in a tree”. The tree may be a reference to the tree of life another prominent Jewish image. The “wind” that rises up is God’s hand summoning Jesus back to life. Like all the souls of the departed, Jesus’ soul rattled around in Hades for a time but now it’s time for vindication.

A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw

Deliver him wings, “Hey look at me now!”

Arms wide open with the sea as his floor

Power. He's flying whole. High, wide

It’s time for the resurrection. A powerful force (a crashing wave) rolled the stone from the tomb and, with “wings” like an angel, Jesus is presented to the world that executed him by saying, “Hey look at me now!” This action occurs forcefully like a violent punch showing God defeating the forces of death. Jesus stands victoriously above death with his “arms wide open” and with “the sea as his floor”. In “power” Jesus is “flying whole, high, and wide”, a description of perfection and glory.

He floated back down

Cause he wanted to share

This key to the locks, on the chains

He saw everywhere

Those who saw him tortured, killed, and entombed can hardly believe what they see. Jesus appears to his followers after his resurrection by floating back down; he returns to earth. His bodily restoration vindicates his message of total redemption of the physical realm. Jesus is the first example of God’s plan for our world—complete restoration. Jesus returns for a time to his followers to ensure they understood what happened. The whole world is imprisoned by chains and locks but the way of God’s kingdom is the key that will unlock those prisons.

But first he was stripped

And then he was stabbed by faceless men

Well fuckers, he still stands

This is a step back to the crucifixion. It depicts the violence done to Jesus by the Romans. They are “faceless” because they are soldiers paid to be cruel rather than individuals who vindictively attacked Jesus. Though they killed him, Jesus rose from the dead; he defeated death; “he still stands”. The flashback to this scene implies that followers of Jesus may face a similar fate but they too will be vindicated just like Jesus.

And he still gets his love

He just gives it away

The love he receives is the

Love that is saved

Disciples of Jesus are in relationship with him and in this way “he still gets his love”. Jesus is now physically with God reciprocating our love (“he just gives it away”) by speaking on our behalf. The “love” Jesus “receives” is our devotion as we follow him. As we participate in the continuing work of redemption that Jesus began, we are “saved” by entering the Kingdom. This happens not just in the future but now as well.

And sometimes is seen

A strange spot in the sky

A human being that was given to fly

I'm flying, oh. High flying, oh

He's flying, oh. High, oh, oh

People who come to know Christ today sometimes see “a strange spot in the sky” or, in other words, we become aware of God and desire to be in relationship. That “human being that was given to fly” is a description of the resurrected Jesus and a promise of our own destiny. We aren’t told what exactly we will be like when we are resurrected. Here, Pearl Jam envisions that reality in a familiar way by comparing it to angels.

"Vertigo" by U2

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Island Records
2004

This song juxtaposes the story of Jesus’ temptation by Satan with a situation in which the narrator faced significant temptation. The word “vertigo” is a description for temptation of all kinds. Being tempted feels like standing on a high building looking at the dizzying drop, much like Jesus atop the temple during his temptation experience.

Unos, dos, tres, catorce!

Lights go down, it’s dark

The jungle is your head

Can’t rule your heart

A feeling is so much stronger

Than a thought

Your eyes are wide

And though your soul

It can’t be bought

Your mind can wander

Hello, hello

I’m at a place called Vertigo

It’s everything I wish I didn’t know

Except you give me something I can feel

The night is full of holes

As bullets rip the sky of ink with gold

They twinkle as the boys play rock and roll

They know they can’t dance at least they know

I can’t stand the beats I’m asking for the cheque

The girl with crimson nails

Has Jesus round her neck swinging to the music

Hello, hello

I’m at a place called Vertigo

It’s everything I wish I didn’t know

Except you give me something I can feel

Check mated, hours of fun

All of this, all of this can be yours

Just give me what I want

And no one gets hurt

Hello, hello

We’re at a place called Vertigo

Lights go down and all I know

Is that you give me something

I can feel your love teaching me how

Your love is teaching me how, how to kneel

Interpretation

Unos, dos, tres, catorce!

Nothing is inconsequential in U2 songs. This line sets the stage for the episode of temptation by showing an escalation “1,2,3 … 14”.

Lights go down, it’s dark

The jungle is your head

Can’t rule your heart

A feeling is so much stronger

Than a thought

Your eyes are wide

And though your soul

It can’t be bought

Your mind can wander

The narrator describes a situation in which we are confronted by temptation represented by the “lights” going down. This implies the lowering of our defenses as the “jungle”—our animal desires—invades our minds (our “head”). However, these desires don’t have to rule us because our “heart” is stronger; we can resist. Our biology is not stronger than our spirit. Though we have the power to overcome temptation, we justify one more look, or a little taste, and believe that we are not compromised because of it.

Hello, hello

I’m at a place called Vertigo

It’s everything I wish I didn’t know

Except you give me something I can feel

The narrator rejects this compromise by comparing Jesus’ temptation experience with ours. Satan offers Jesus power, glory, and nourishment but rather than consider Satan’s offer, Jesus calls out to God for help. The “hello, hello” is Jesus getting God’s attention during his moment of temptation (“vertigo”). Jesus wishes he had not been confronted by that temptation but he believes God can help him overcome it. God replaces those enticing images with something tangible. Not to be confused with a happy feeling, the “something I can feel” is the Holy Spirit. With God’s presence working in us we can “feel” or touch the power that enables us to overcome temptation.

The night is full of holes

As bullets rip the sky of ink with gold

They twinkle as the boys play rock and roll

They know they can’t dance at least they know

I can’t stand the beats I’m asking for the cheque

The girl with crimson nails

Has Jesus round her neck swinging to the music

This is the narrator’s personal temptation experience in a nightclub where he is seeing a band as a reviewer or prospective agent. Despite the elaborate visual presentation complete with dancers/strippers, the performance is underwhelming and “full of holes”. The band lacks ability (“they know they can’t dance”) and resort to visual stimulation to distract the audience. The narrator doesn’t enjoy the music—he “can’t stand the beats” and wants to leave. He feels guilty because of the strippers. The “girl with crimson nails” describes the narrator’s sexual temptation radiating from the dancer/stripper (who is wearing a cross necklace and maybe nothing else). There is a degree of hypnosis occurring as the woman sways to the music.

Hello, hello

I’m at a place called Vertigo

It’s everything I wish I didn’t know

Except you give me something I can feel

The narrator finds himself at a moment of vertigo as temptation confronts him. Just like Jesus, he calls out to God for help, for something to replace the temptation.

Check mated, hours of fun

Here, the narrator in some way surrenders to temptation. It could be that he stops fighting his instinct to resist temptation and engages in sexual fantasy and/or improper physical actions.

All of this, all of this can be yours

Just give me what I want

And no one gets hurt

This is Satan speaking to Jesus during his temptation, to the narrator in the nightclub, and to all of us in times of our own temptation. In Jesus’ case, Satan promises him earthly power (“all of this can be yours”) and an escape from his execution (“no one gets hurt”) if Jesus gives in to temptation (“give me what I want”) and worships him. In our case, we are tempted to worship the wrong things like our animal lusts, material goods, fame, beauty, and power.

Hello, hello

We’re at a place called Vertigo

Lights go down and all I know

Is that you give me something

I can feel your love teaching me how

Your love is teaching me how, how to kneel

This is a united cry to God for help. We all face temptation. However, God’s love teaches us how to handle it. The prescription is “to kneel”. Like many other U2 songs, this final line has a veiled sexual reference. The sexual temptation described already makes “your love is teaching me how to kneel” carry the connotation of oral sex. This is intentional and stands in contrast to the intended meaning of supplication to God as a means of escaping temptation.

“Mary” by Sarah McLachlan

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Nettwerk
1994

The point of this song is Mary’s (the mother of Jesus) humility and recognition of herself as a servant.

Mary walks

Down to the water's edge

And there she hangs her head

To find herself faded

A shadow of what she once was

She said

How long have I been sleeping

And why do I feel so old

Why do I feel so cold?

My heart is saying one thing

But my body won't let go

With trembling hands she reaches up

A stranger's flesh is offered

And I would be the last to know

I would be the last the let it show

I would be the last to go

Take her hand

She will lead you through the fire

Give you back hope

And hope that you won't take too much

Respecting what is left

She cradled us

She held us in her arms

Unselfish in her suffering

She could not understand

That no one seemed to have the time

To cherish what was given

And I would be the last to know

And I would be the last to let it show

I would be the last to go

Mary walks

Interpretation:

Mary walks

Down to the water's edge

And there she hangs her head

To find herself faded

A shadow of what she once was

This song depicts Mary’s numbness and sorrow in the days following Jesus’ execution. The now childless mother feels “faded” and like “a shadow”. Mary faces not only emotional anguish at losing someone she loves, but also social judgment. In the Jewish culture, women derived much of their value from bearing children since the nation and family was seen as contiguous in offspring. Mary is not just grieving over Jesus’ death but also her own diminished social value.

She said

How long have I been sleeping

And why do I feel so old

Why do I feel so cold?

My heart is saying one thing

But my body won't let go

Being Jesus’ mother was a wonderful dream that Mary is awaking from to discover she has aged significantly. She was a young woman when she was pregnant with Jesus, but the horror of the past few days has taken its toll. During her grieving, Mary must have heard people saying Jesus had risen. Her heart wants to believe her son is alive but she saw him dead and buried. To lose Jesus once is awful; to rekindle hope and be disappointed would be like seeing him die again.

With trembling hands she reaches up

A stranger's flesh is offered

Mary recalls the event that initiated this storyline when an angel tells her God chose her to bear Messiah. Mary’s “trembling hands” reveal her fear and yet she “reaches up” to accept the task. The “stranger’s flesh” could mean three things. The foreign influence (God) of the Immaculate Conception, the new life (Jesus) beginning in Mary, and the transformed person Mary herself is becoming.

And I would be the last to know

I would be the last the let it show

I would be the last to go

Mary describes herself as lowly and unworthy (“the last to know”) and yet she is humble (“the last to let it show”) and loyal (“the last to go”).

Take her hand

She will lead you through the fire

Give you back hope

And hope that you won't take too much

In Eden God says mankind will be saved through woman, meaning Messiah will be born of a woman. Mary fulfills that promise leading mankind through the fire of sin and giving us back hope through Jesus’ life. Mary’s fear that we might “take too much” is realized when we executed Jesus for his redemptive actions.

Respecting what is left

She cradled us

She held us in her arms

Unselfish in her suffering

She could not understand

Mary accepts the situation in front of her and is content not to fully grasp the importance of her child or the events about to take place. She holds and cares for her baby knowing that Messiah is the world’s hope. In this way, as she cradles Jesus, she also cradles us. She submits to the stress, strain, and “suffering” that results from mothering Jesus.

That no one seemed to have the time

To cherish what was given

Mary was horrified to see Jesus rejected by his people and executed as an enemy of the state. After this all took place, Mary struggled with the fact that people turned on Jesus and hated him. He was Messiah, a priceless gift and people couldn’t see that.

And I would be the last to know

And I would be the last to let it show

I would be the last to go

Again the chorus depicts Mary’s self-deprecation, humility, and loyalty even after the loss of her son.

Mary walks

The final phrase mirrors the first two words of the song where Mary is grieving but here Mary is walking behind Jesus as a true follower. Her ignorance of the reality of Messiah is gone but her willingness to obey is not.