The Shins: Fighting In A Sack Meaning

Fighting In A Sack Lyrics

Just last night I woke from some unconscionable dream
Had it nailed to my forehead again
To keep this boat afloat
There are things you can't afford to know
So I save all my breath for the sails
But you'll find those lingering voices
Are...

1. ponderthescribe

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   Jun 12th 2010 !⃝

   I am in no way implying any religious or lack of religious affiliation with The Shins. However, as an Atheist this song seems to display empathy towards the struggles associated with movement into individual free-thought. "Had it nailed to my forehead again" possibly making a statement concerning the mass indoctrination of Christianity. "To keep this boat afloat, there are things you can't afford to know" possibly says something about the stagnant position religion holds. There seems to be no growth and it's unacceptable that people should settle for 'mysterious ways,' when we have the tools and capability of finding out any answer to any reasonable question. 'Why would any diety allow that' is a reasonable question when being asked to dedicate every Sunday of my short life to him/her. Who decided there is blasphemy in needing to KNOW? "So I save...sails," meaning in my opinion, that keeping this idea alive consumes a person's life, to the point that they can't even spare the breath to speak about anything unrelated or besides support for that boat (metaphor for religion)."Lingering voices" in my opinion represents the denial of common sense to yourself. It's your pastor or fanatical grandmother's voice that makes you feel guilt for wanting to explore the possibility that something your life was built around could be absolutely wrong. "Weakening cables" a symbol for the inevitable downfall of organized religion (take Europe for example) with the progression of overwhelmingly sensible science. "Fear and hate" is pretty self explanatory. As an ex-Christian, I know the many teachings of fear and hated associated with the Bible. Gays this, savages that. Blah blah blah. "Most ideas...can trust" I feel is a challenge that says 'Hey! Only time will tell,' on individual terms through death and in the grander scheme across the decades of scientific progression. "So let's abandon...fighting in a sack," is absolutely brilliant. It can refer to so much more than my personal take on the song. Dogma, tradition...these things should not limit us. We are an innovative new people who have the choice to create our own morality and a better standard of judgment than that of our less knowledgeable (in a scientific since) ancestors. "YOu might find...doorstep." We've all known the pain of harassment in the form of Bible-thumping (so to speak). I think this refers to the people who interpret the reading literally and then worse, they try to force that impossible ideas onto others, for example creationist despite all the EVIDENCE, insisting on the Earth being only so few thousands of years old.You can't make literal sense of "strange" stories of giant animal boats and men in whale bellies! And of course it is in the "attempt to multiply" because these people feel it is their duty to "save" everyone else. How pompous. Regardless of the artists intention, I personally take this song to be a compliment to the people who think outside the box, or rather should I say outside the "sack." Fight outside the constraints of a limp, dark, over-crowded sack. Step out for fresh air. Be a "wise-ass" because it's the wise-ass that contributes something uniquely brilliant to the world.

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