I think this is a very beautiful OM&M song that is very under appreciated. In the song Austin is talking about his faith in God. He talks about why people question his beliefs, why people don’t believe, and how there is also room and time to grow to learn to love God. He also uses a lot of double meanings, meaning that almost every line of the song has a double meaning.
Verse One
What do you see when you close your eyes? I strongly believe he is referring to people's' argument of saying God doesn't exist because you can't see him, but what do you see when you close your eyes? Do you see God? Or do you see nothing?
How do you feel when you see it? He's asking how you feel when you see darkness, do you feel helpless, alone and doubtful? Or do you see some kind of hope?
Who is to say that it isn’t real? He’s questioning why people question his own thoughts and beliefs. Who is tell him that God isn’t real? Why should people be allowed to tell him what’s real and what’s not?
And why can’t we learn to believe in, to believe in something? It’s almost as if he’s pleading with everyone, or anyone, why can’t you believe in God? Why can’t you just give it a chance, why can’t people just learn to trust it? Why can’t you believe in the hope and promise? Why do you have so much doubt? Why can’t you just believe?
Chorus
Look into the emptiness and step into the cold, I think he’s talking about how you carry on your daily life of monogamy ((emptiness)) but just glance at it and continue on. You just stare at the emptiness of your life. Because if you don’t believe in God and you believe that when you’re dead, you’re dead and gone forever, then what is the point of trying to live a good life? There’s no point in anything, it won’t matter in the end. ((think of an existential crisis)) This type of false hope can make you feel so empty, life could feel so pointless for you. But you could be so use to it that you just look at it as part of your daily routine and continue going on with your day. I believe there is a double meaning to this line, he’s talking physically ((what I have already said)) and spiritually, ((referring to what I will say for the next line)) you are in the emptiness of your soul.
Right between the body and your soul. Your soul and your body are different things, when you die, they separate. ((your body stays on earth, your soul goes to heaven)) In this line, he’s talking about between the body and you soul, the void no one talks about. The void that makes you feel empty and cold. And it’s right between your body and soul ((your physical being and mental being)) which can be hard to fix
Deep inside of all of us, there’s something left to hold. He’s referring to the fact that no matter how broken or damaged you are, there’s hope for everyone. There’s always hope for you to hold onto.
Even when we give up all hope, ((this goes with the line above)) Even when you’ve given up on everything, you always find a way to make yourself hold onto that something.
There’s space enough to grow. He’s saying two things here, you always have space to grow as a person. You can always change yourself and the way that you are if you have enough desire to be a better person. He’s also saying that you always have time to accept Jesus into your heart.
Verse Two
I know that we are all terminal, Terminal is the end of something. So here he means that everyone one day will be terminal, everyone dies, eventually everyone’s life on earth will be gone.
We sail on borrowed time. There is no actual concept of time. However there is time on earth, since this is man’s habitat and not God’s, we borrow our time on earth from God. In heaven and hell there is no concept of time because there is no end to eternity.
It’s never about what we leave behind, This is line and the next are two of my favorite’s. Here he’s talking about how it doesn’t matter what you had on earth because you can’t take it with you to heaven or hell. This could be a good or bad thing. You can’t take your money/possessions with you but you can also leave your past behind you because you’re going somewhere better, where you don’t need it. Or you’re going somewhere worse, where you still don’t need it.
It’s how we live our lives. This line ties into the line above, when someone dies, they don’t really think about the things they have left behind. They look at how that person lived their life. Did they live for Christ? Did they not? Were they a good person? Or a bad one?
Chorus
What do you see when you close your eyes? After explaining himself and his views, he’s asking one more time, what do you see? Do you see the light? Or do you just see the emptiness? Has he convinced you to think about what he’s said? Have you reconsidered your thoughts on God/religion/Jesus? It’s almost as this is a plea for whoever is listening to the song, Austin cares about everyone very much and wants everyone to have a chance for eternal life.
*DISCLAIMER*: Alright, I know I’m going to get a ton of shit for talking about religion so here is a note for the people who want to throw insults at me. Not ONCE in this did I try to shove Christianity down your throats, not once. I am simply explaining the lines of the song because a lot of people don’t get what he’s saying. So please, don’t get yourself worked up about it, if it makes you angry just scroll on by, no one is forcing you to read this.Also, don’t go ahead and assume what I do and don’t believe. My religion is a religion of love. I don’t hate gays, I don’t hate whatever else you think I may hate. I very strongly believe that people have the right to live their live however THEY want and NOT what I want. I don’t care what you are or what you identify with. I will still have compassion and love towards you no matter what, it’s your life to live and not mine. I will never forcefully throw my beliefs at you, that’s not me, that’s not how I am. Now, I also know that this is NOT an exact meaning of the lyrics, only Austin knows exactly what they mean, but I feel as if I’m very close to what he is saying. For those of you who don’t know, Austin is a Christian and does talk about God and Jesus in some songs, I feel very strongly that this is one of those songs. Also, thank you VERY much for reading! I really appreciate it! I love you all and I hope you liked my breakdown of the song!
Love,
xoxosam