Doubt
Doubt Unveiled: Exploring Life's Contradictions in William Tyler Sowers' Melodic Reflection
Lyrics
How many people have come up to me asking what I believe?
Reflecting on the number of people inquiring about personal beliefs
We're trained, and we learn of who knocks at the door
Being trained to recognize and respond to those who approach
But that's never happened before
Unexpected situations that challenge the usual response
The story unfolds
The narrative of life unfolding
We're only told
Only being informed about certain aspects of the story
It was written before we spoke
Predestined outcomes, predetermined before communication
So I sit down and I take notes
Observing and documenting the unfolding events
How many people lie?
Questioning the honesty of people
I'm not afraid to die
Expressing fearlessness about death
How many people lie, saying, I'm not afraid to die?
Highlighting the contradiction of people claiming no fear of death while lying
How many people have come up to me and paint their pain like a game?
Encountering individuals who trivialize their pain as if it were a game
A cubist persona with no use for a flame but I never cared for the name
Rejecting societal labels, unconcerned with superficial aspects
What kind of story gives me glory?
Questioning the type of narrative that brings glory
I know it sounds quite contradictory
Acknowledging the contradictory nature of the question
To be the only living thing in my house
Being alone, the only living presence in the house
To be the just and virtuous spouse
Striving to be a just and virtuous spouse
How many people lie?
Reiterating the questioning of honesty in people
I'm not afraid to die
Reaffirming the lack of fear of death
How many people lie, saying, I'm not afraid to die?
Pointing out the contradiction in claiming no fear of death while lying
Can we know, without a doubt?
Repeating the theme of questioning certainty
Can we know, without a doubt?
-Can we know, without a doubt?
-Can we know, without a doubt?
-How many people lie?
Reiteration of questioning honesty and expressing fearlessness of death
I'm not afraid to die
-How many people lie, saying, I'm not afraid to die?
-Something rises up in me, something I don't want you to see
Concealing something undesirable from others
This delusion that I'm losin' 'sgot my arms striped with bruises
Feeling delusional and emotionally battered
I'm a sinner and a saint but with both parts' shame
Admitting to being both flawed and virtuous with associated shame
And you handed me books and I thought it'd all stop
Receiving guidance through books but struggling to change
But I'd painted my black heart with every last drop
Symbolically using black paint to cover internal struggles
I turned the page and the page; it went on like a song
Continued struggles and inability to fully participate in life
Turned it up real loud but I couldn't sing along
-Maybe I'll get it before my judgment day
Hoping for enlightenment or change before facing judgment
Or my voice keeps cracking like these jars of clay
-Like my feet like the king that I heard in the dream
Referencing biblical or historical figures in a dream
Or the one who was once called a Philistine
-Or maybe the Mannichean or Augustine
Referencing theological concepts like Manicheanism and Augustine, questioning orthodoxy
Was the word that I heard, was it heresy?
-They stripped all the beauty out of the search
Struggling with the religious search for meaning
So my wayward nature would be still in church
-And we're still in church
Emphasizing the enduring presence of internal conflict within the church
And we're still in church
-Afraid to die
-And we're still in church
-Yeah, we're all in church
-And we're all still afraid to die
Collective fear of death within the church community
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