Anyway, here are the lyrics...
I do not believe in GodIf reading lyrics isn't your thing, here is the song performed live by the band.
That doesn't mean I'm a lesser person
I still have a heart
And I know what it feels like to be broken
I may not believe in Jesus
But I do believe in sacrifice
Life does not always stand reason
No one ever gets a chance
'Til they're out of time
I'd rather risk my fate
Then lose my faith
The lovin', the hatin'
The constant debating
The chaos that comes
Raise The Alarm
We mean it
We'll die
Consence Denied
The Chaos that comes
Raise The Alarm
I may not believe in regrets
But I believe in self assurance
Some things I'd rather forget
We see what we choose and
We choose what we see to believe
In the name of the father,
the son,
and the holy ghost
I'm not concerned with religion
After all that whats inside
That is Smoke
I'd rather risk my fate
Then lose my faith
The lovin', the hatin'
The consenceapating
The chaos that comes
Raise The Alarm
Interesting. I really wanted to know what went on for them which led them to write the song. Is it an attack on christian religious hypocrites, or a reflection on the joyless, funless life he has seen Christians live? What's the alarm that needs to be raised and how does it relate to the false or corrupt charges he seems to be bringing against Christians?
It's sad that such a prominent Australian band obviously feels such disdane for the Christian faith, however, this is probably a reflection of society in general thinking that Jesus has no relevance and nothing to say to them.
I wonder how this song could be used to start a conversation with someone about the real Jesus, who matters and who changes the way you live and think and feel about life?
ps... if I didn't disagree with the lyrics I wouldn't have any problem belting them out in the car as I drove a long, a great Living End song!
It's a very interesting song (and like you I would be singing along it if weren't for the controversial lyrical content).
ReplyDeleteUpon hearing the first lines, I got the impression that the lyricist thinks of Christians as very judgemental and conservative people - a stereotype that angered me.
You may be interested in having a look at some other Living End lyrics - they have a song called 'Hey Hey Disbeliever' and another called 'Faith' which both cover religious matters.
hey chris. you might wanna check your lyric source. there's a few lines in there that i'm not convinced are right.
ReplyDeletemy favourite is "consenceapating", which i'm pretty sure is not a word.... i think the lyric might be "constant debating"!
Good post though mate
Hi Chris, funny what Google will link you to... I didn't even know that this blog thing existed until I was also confronted by the lyrics to this song and decided to search about The Living End and find out how they felt about Christians and Jesus. It's not a good feeling when one of your fav aussie bands decides to have a go at Jesus, and it's a shame that they would feel that way. Rather annoying too because it's totally distracted me from finishing my job applications.
ReplyDeleteBeing previously a non-believer and now being a follower of Jesus, I remember how easy it was to criticize Christianity. It's easy to listen to music like this and happily go with the flow, and have a general dislike for anything 'righteous'. One thing I (and many others) struggle with is the ability to represent Jesus with clarity and accuracy without getting non-believers off-side and on the defensive (for example if I said only faith in Jesus spares you from judgement, that's not going to sit too well with those whom don't understand and/or appreciate the Christmas/Easter story in its entirety).
Christians are always stereotyped as the ignorant and arrogant ones from society around us, but looking back at my life now I can say that it was actually me who was the spiritually ignorant and arrogant one. And to the non-believer reading this it's going to sound all back-to-front until you actually get there. Actually maybe it's nothing short of a minor miracle that I've ended up following God and His Son.
And so I blabber on not making much sense (it's 1.26am), but maybe it's about us doing our most to show the world that we aren't like the 'Christians' as described in these lyrics but instead doing and inspiring others to take up their cross (CRAVE anyone?). It's like the loaded Herald Sun poll - we are no nearer to perfect than the non-believer and yet we have a responsibility to set the perfect example. And we will continue to fail, but if we repent and do our best for Jesus then hopefully others will see our commitment and sincerity and believe. But thanks for this Chris, it's good to see I'm not alone when it comes to feeling spiritually under attack.
-Marcus
gees u ppl are nuts
ReplyDeleteITS JUST A SONG and a good one
ps half ur lyrics are wrong
The Living End are a gr8 aussie band and ther is nothing sad or wrong about the lyrics of this song - as john said - ITS JUST A SONG
ReplyDelete@John: Thanks for pointing out that some of the lyrics are wrong. I grabbed them off the first site that came up when I googled the song. I shall endeavor to fix them.
ReplyDelete@John and Jimmy: You're right it is just a song. And I did say at the end of my post it was a good one. I also happen to be a fan of the band.
@John My post was simply me wondering why the song was written and the motivation behind it. I think people, Christian and non-Christian think about that all the time. Not really worthy of the statement "you people are nuts".
@Jimmy: I believe the lyrics are wrong. In so much as they make the claim that Jesus doesn't matter. However, I also think there is truth in the song. For example, the opening lines about not believing in God not making you a lesser person is true.
Happy to be engaged with but if all you can write are pretty weak insults and whinge like babies, "It's just a song" then save your posts to yourselves.
I love this song - its one of those sing-as-loud-as-you-can-with-the-car-windows-down songs.
ReplyDeleteChristians need to stop being reactive (anti this, anti that) and start being a bit more proactive.
The harshest words jesus used were against the pharisees - the "churchgoers" the rule makers, the line-drawers, the religous people.
It bugs me how christians always refer to everyone else as "non-christians". I dont think jesus was concerned if you were "in" or "out" but rather the direction people are heading in, whats in their hearts. He talked redemption, restoration & salvation (of nations not personal ive-got-my-own-butt-saved)
I think its more a wake up call to church to sort their stuff out, & gain some credibility.
"Id rather risk my fate
, than lose my faith"
Hi Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. And I agree wholeheartedly with much of what you say.
Yes, how great it would be if Christians were the innovators of this world, the ones who were proactively seeking to engage with the world on it's terms and not on the worlds.
I also agree that Jesus did have some harsh words for the Pharisees. Pharisees were more concerned with how people behaved and what was on their outside rather than what was on the inside. Their religion had been perverted.
I also think that the Christian faith is about the direction of our hearts. But what is that direction aimed at? The direction is to God! And the way to God, Jesus said, is through himself. Jesus makes a clear distinction between those who follow him and those who do not. The legalistic pharisees for example are out, but the repentant prostitute is in. They were ruled in or out on the basis of the direction their hearts were heading. The criteria? Were they self sufficient, self serving hearts or were they repentant hearts focused on Jesus?
The good news of Jesus is so much more than good news for my personal salvation (this is still part of it and right through the bible we can see Jesus working on an Individual level). The Good News is about the redemption, restoration and salvation of the world! And by God's grace he wants you and me to be a part of it. The world is made up of people, and God restores the world by working through people. People who have surrendered control of their life to Jesus, their rescuer and redeemer!
It is a wake up call for the church to express the Gospel to our culture more clearly. And to seek God's help to live out it's faith, being true to God.
I don't need to risk my fate, because it is made secure through my faith.
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply to my post (the original anonymous, not the muppet with the stupid quote above).
If you havent read any books by brian mcclaren, I strongly reccommend "A new kind of christian". Its fantastic. It looks at a new way of doing church. Makes me believe that there might be some hope left in church.
Good luck with your youth ministry. It was the scariest thing I ever did.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThank you!
I disagree that "it's only a song" - would you hum along with the lyrics if they were pro-nazi or anti-semetic? I know I wouldn't - and I don't expect you would either. You see - lyrics are only regarded as innocuous as long as they don't speak against anything we care about. So I hope that you will understand that by the same reasoning, I will take no joy in such a song!
ReplyDeleteRE why "sound the alarm" - perhaps they are taking a shot at those who preach alarmism regarding the signs of the times? If this is what they are doing, I sure hope they don't ever believe in global warming - and didn't get caught up in all that hole in the ozone layer stuff, and before that...well you know what I mean!
You might want to ask the band about it.. but as far as I know, the Living End boys are Mormons.
ReplyDeleteAt their show last night in Sydney, the first person they thanked at the end was Jesus.
Just sayin'
Love from an Atheist.
I am a huge living end fan and know a fair bit about them not everything im not a stalker. But 1) Chris has openly stated on live television the song is not attacking any particular group nor is it anti christian. Their songs cant be taken at face value and their songs do target social stigmas and events. such as school shootings, military men being sent to war and even job lose. Christ has stated he is not an atheist ( i believe agnostic or believes in god but doesnt belong to one religion) The song is targeting about the concept that people are too focused on the outside and appearances than what people actually do. Chris and his band members actual do probably more charity work than you do! they volunteer at youth centres and teach children to play instruments, they donate a hell of a lot to charities such as dollars for collars. and you know what i spoke to someone who worked at a youth centre they volunteered at and when asked about it all they asked that no one share what they do there because they didnt want a media circus and didnt ask for any acknowledgment. Their song is about making people realise it doesnt matter what you are or what you do its as they say "whats inside that matters most" you can spin the song anyway you can but i have met the guys and they are one of the best bunch of guys i have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
ReplyDeleteOh ps your lyrics are way fucking off lol
I may not believe in God It doesn't mean I'm a lesser person I still have a heart And I know what it feels like to be broken I may not believe in Jesus But I believe in sacrifice Life doesn't always stand a reason And no one ever gets a chance to live it twice But I'd rather risk my fate Than to lose my faith In the lovin', the hatin' The constant debatin' The chaos, the calm Raise the alarm The living that die The constant deny The chaos, the calm Raise the alarm Raise the alarm I may not believe in regrets But I believe in salvation Some things I'd rather forget We choose what we see And we see what we choose to believe In the name of the Father The Son, and the Holy Ghost I'm not concerned with religion After all it's what's inside that matters most But I'd rather risk my fate Than to lose my faith In the lovin', the hatin' The constant debatin' The chaos, the calm Raise the alarm The living that die The constant deny The chaos, the calm Raise the alarm Raise the alarm Raise the alarm But I'd rather risk my fate Than to lose my faith Yeah, I'd rather risk my fate Than to lose my faith In the lovin', the hatin' The constant debatin' The chaos, the calm Raise the alarm The living that die The constant deny The chaos, the calm Raise the alarm Raise the alarm Raise the alarm Yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah Raise the alarm