anonymous July 28th, 2006 07:58PM  
This song appears to be based on (or at least reference a lot) the bibical story of jonah and the whale. In the story, jonah was ordered by god to go spread his word to the people of a city called ninevah. When jonah refused and instead got on a ship bound elsewhere, a storm arose and the sailors "cast lots" (basically the equivalent of pulling names out of a hat or drawing straws) to see who aboard the ship was cursed (hence the line "who of us is cursed, or do we even have to ask" and "if no one speaks a word then let the lots be cast"). When jonah's lot was drawn, he admitted he had disobyed god, and was tossed overboard. ("pray as you're tossed over, this breath could be your last")

jonah was swallowed by a huge whale and stayed within it's belly for a long time. (hence "through living gateways pass/ lined with death and ivory" "ribs will raise cathedrals for the morning mass") he prayed to god and declared his intention to follow god's will, and then was spit out on dry land. ("steel yourself in sackcloth, roll your heart in ash" is a reference to repentance, because in biblical times repentant people wore sackcloth.) he continued to ninevah to accomplish his mission there.

The idea of the story is to have unrelenting faith in god and that jonah's struggles renewed his faith, a sort of "baptism by fire", though he actually fell into water.

This song could be intended to mean that when you face struggles in life (symbolized by the storm) which may call you to question your faith or wonder why you are struggling, "hold fast to hope"- hold on to your inner faith, repenting from doubt and mistrust. Never stop hoping for a brighter tommorow.