Skin of My Teeth
Saints and Sinners: Navigating Life's Bumpy Roads
Lyrics
Another Sunday morning, hungover and blue
Describing a typical Sunday morning feeling hungover and down
Smellin' like cigarettes and beer
Physical scent of cigarettes and beer is noticeable
My mouth is dry, got bloodshot eyes
Dehydration and bloodshot eyes from drinking
And my head splittin' in two
Experiencing a splitting headache
Church bells ringin' in my ear
Hearing church bells while in this state
The high steeple, crowds are fillin' up, those sanctuary pews
Observing the church gathering from a distance
But I'm gonna hang around my crib
Choosing to stay at home
Cause I don't like dressin' up
Discomfort with formal attire for church
I don't own a pair of Sunday shoes
Lacking appropriate shoes for the occasion
And I refuse to be another hypocrite
Refusing to be hypocritical in attending
Oh when I'm out drinkin', I wear a cross
Wearing a cross while drinking, a juxtaposition of behaviors
I'm not really a righteous man, oh but I'm not lost
Not claiming righteousness but not feeling lost either
And when I meet my maker, I know he's gonna smile at me
Expecting a positive reception from the maker despite flaws
And I'll make it to heaven by the skin of my teeth
Expectation of barely making it to heaven
My grandma told me "Boy, you better straighten up
Grandma's advice to straighten life's path
Cause you're swervin down a bumpy road."
Warning about a troubled journey ahead
She said "Put that damned old bottle down and pick your Bible up
Encouragement to replace drinking with religious devotion
Get back in church, put on a choir robe"
Returning to church and its rituals
Oh but I can't see myself fallin' in line behind the preacher
Discomfort or disagreement with conforming to church norms
Hell, he's probably more messed up than me
Perception of preacher's potential flaws
Always talkin' 'bout damnation, cursin' every unbeliever
Criticism of preacher's focus on damnation
Who's he to judge? Who's he to condemn me?
Questioning the preacher's authority to judge
When I'm out drinkin', I wear a cross
Continuation of wearing a cross while drinking
I'm not really a righteous man, oh but I'm not lost
Not identifying as righteous but not completely lost
And when I meet my maker, I know he's gonna smile at me
Expectation of a favorable reception from the maker
And I'll make it to heaven by the skin of my teeth
Anticipating barely making it to heaven
Half a loser, I'm half a winner
Portraying a mixed, incomplete identity
I'm half a saint, and I'm half a sinner
Being both good and flawed
I feed my soul on Sunday dinner
Deriving spiritual nourishment like a Sunday meal
I'm every man of god
Identifying as every type of man of faith
When times get hard, I hit my knees
Turning to prayer during hardships
And I praise the lord when he blesses me
Expressing gratitude in moments of blessing
I do my best to keep him pleased
Striving to please the divine
I'm every man of god
Reiteration of being every man of faith
I'm every man of god
Repetition of the same idea
When I'm out drinkin', I wear a cross
Reiterating the juxtaposition of behaviors while drinking
I'm not really a righteous man, oh but I'm not lost
Reaffirming a lack of complete righteousness
And when I meet my maker I know he's gonna smile at me
Expectation of a favorable reception from the maker
And I'll make it to heaven by the skin of my teeth
Anticipating barely making it to heaven
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