Regular readers know my appreciation for the music of Sully Erna and Godsmack already. I chose to share his song SINNER'S PRAYER this week for a particular reason, though. It's such an efficient song. It's short, unique and has a visceral appeal that is difficult to articular. It illustrates how songwriting often works as the opposite of literature. Don't try to literally tell a story, instead offer a series of images that sound badass yet that don't make much sense (i.e. seeing one's soul through a woman's eyes). It's hard to tell the precise subject of SINNER'S PRAYER. Maybe guilt, desire or drug abuse. Something. Sure thing, it's not just about the passing of a warrior's soul. If you think that, you need a class in metaphor. But you don't think that, do you? Whatever you think is the subject of SINNER'S PRAYER, it's a great song.
By the way, did you know Sully Erna wrote a memoir?
Sully Erna - SINNER'S PRAYER
To love the right,
yet do so wrong.
To be the weak,
yet burn to be so strong.
go rider, although your ride has been through life.
go rider, I see your soul through the devils eyes.
if I could live my life again,
would I have lived that life insane?
go rider, go ride into the night
go rider, now see your soul through a woman's eyes
I am a sinner
hold my prayers up to the sun
I am a sinner
heavens closed for what I've done
what have I done
what have I done?
I am sinner hold my prayers up to the sun
I am sinner
heavens closed for what I've done
Heavens closed for what I've done