When You Were Young
Searching for Salvation: Unraveling the Meaning of 'When You Were Young' by Keith McInally
Lyrics
You sit there in your heartache
You are experiencing emotional pain.
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
You are hoping for a charming person to come and rescue you.
To save you from your old ways
You desire salvation from your past mistakes.
You play forgiveness
You engage in the act of forgiving.
Watch it now, here he comes
Be alert, the person you are waiting for is approaching.
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
The person doesn't resemble Jesus.
But he talks like a gentlemen
However, he speaks politely, akin to your childhood expectations.
Like you imagined when you were young
Recalling the idealized image you had when young.
Can we climb this mountain?
Expressing uncertainty about overcoming challenges.
I don't know
Uncertain about the possibility.
Higher now than ever before
Currently facing greater challenges than ever.
I know we can make it if we take it slow
Believing progress is possible with a cautious approach.
Let's take it easy
Suggesting to take things slowly and calmly.
Easy now, watch it go
Advocating for a calm observation of the situation.
We're burning down the highway skyline
Describing a rapid journey along the highway.
On the back of a hurricane that started turning
A metaphorical ride on a powerful force that began changing.
When you were young
Referring to a past time, possibly childhood.
When you were young
Reiterating the mention of a youthful period.
And sometimes you close your eyes
Reflecting on memories by closing your eyes.
And see the place where you used to live
Imagining the location where you once resided.
When you were young
Connecting memories to when you were young.
They say the devil's water, it ain't so sweet
Cautioning about tempting or dangerous situations.
You don't have to drink right now
Encouraging to resist immediate indulgence.
But you can dip your feet
Suggesting a cautious engagement with risky elements.
Every once in a little while
Indicating occasional, controlled involvement.
You sit there in your heartache
Reiterating the experience of heartache.
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
Repeating the desire for a savior.
To save you from your old ways
Repeating the longing for redemption.
You play forgiveness
Reiterating the act of forgiving.
Watch it now, here he comes
Re-emphasizing the imminent arrival of the awaited person.
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
Restating the dissimilarity to Jesus in appearance.
But he talks like a gentlemen
Reaffirming the gentleman-like speech resembling childhood expectations.
Like you imagined when you were young
Recalling the idealized image from youth.
(Talks like a gentlemen, like you imagined)
Emphasizing the gentleman-like nature imagined.
When you were young
Reiterating the reference to youth.
I said he doesn't look a thing like Jesus
Repeating the dissimilarity to Jesus in appearance.
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
Further reinforcing the dissimilarity.
But more than you'll ever know
Highlighting the depth of the dissimilarity.
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