Hell
Journey Beyond: Exploring Life's Choices in David Plell's 'Hell'
Lyrics
According to the Presbyterian priest
Reflecting on the perspective of a Presbyterian priest
You can either go up or go down
Presenting the binary choice of going up or down, likely referring to heaven or hell
The way he talks you'd think he's seen a lot
Implies the priest speaks with authority but lacks personal experiences
But you don't ever see him go out
Contrast between the priest's advice and his own behavior
What is it like?
Rhetorical question about the nature of hell
Is it hot? Is it hard?
Questions about the conditions in hell, addressing temperature and difficulty
Is it just like people say?
Questioning the accuracy of common perceptions about hell
How does it work?
Asking about the functioning of hell
Is there government and language and dessert?
Enquiring about the existence of governance, language, and dessert in hell
Do they drink on holidays?
Questioning whether there are celebrations or rituals in hell
Open up the gate to hell
Command to open the gate to hell
Take the one line going down now
Directive to choose the downward path to hell
Open up the gate to hell now
Repetition of the command to open the gate to hell
Heaven's line is slowing down
Indication that the line to heaven is becoming less popular
Here they say heaven works you like a dog
Description of heaven as a place with demanding work
Peer reviews, deadlines, and team chats
Depiction of heavenly work environment with modern elements
She pours me absinthe from the eyes of a skull
Symbolic act of being served absinthe from a skull, suggesting unconventional pleasures in heaven
Doesn't seem very much wrong with that
Suggesting there's nothing inherently wrong with unconventional pleasures
If you had the choice
Presenting a hypothetical choice between losing hearing or voice
Would you rather lose your hearing or your voice?
Questioning the desirability of two undesirable outcomes
Not the best fate either way
Commenting on the unfavorable nature of both choices
If you had to choose
Introducing another hypothetical choice between becoming manic or confused
Would you rather become manic or confused?
Presenting a difficult decision between solitude and public exposure
All alone or stuck on stage?
Repetition of the command to open the gate to hell
Open up the gate to hell
Reiteration of the directive to choose the downward path
Take the one line going down now
Repetition of the command to open the gate to hell
Open up the gate to hell now
Restating that heaven's line is losing popularity
Heaven's line is slowing down
Final repetition of the command to open the gate to hell
Open up the gate to hell
Reiteration of the directive to choose the downward path
Take the one line going down now
Repetition of the command to open the gate to hell
Open up the gate to hell now
Reiteration of the command to open the gate to hell
Heaven's line is slowing down
Final statement about the declining popularity of heaven's line
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