Freedom Into Slavery
Anthem Lights Lyrics
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Sometimes I feel
If I didn't know that You would forgive me
If it wasn't so real
Maybe I would act different
Maybe I would be blameless
With forgive and forget left out
Why do I push You away
When I know You can't be gone?
Why do I fade black and white to gray
When the lines are all clearly drawn?
It seems I found a way, I found a way
To turn freedom into slavery
I found a way, I found a way
To turn freedom into slavery, oh, oh
Still it's making me wonder
See, I believe that I'm free
But somehow knowing I can do anything
Has put chains on me
Right here beside You
I got all that I need
But still I choose to run away
Just because I'm free
Why do I push You away
When I know You can't be gone?
Why do I fade black and white to gray
When the lines are all clearly drawn?
It seems I found a way, I found a way
To turn freedom into slavery
I found a way, I found a way
To turn freedom into slavery
I found a way, I found a way
To turn freedom into slavery
I found a way, I found a way, oh
So why do I run just 'cause I can
When I don't even got chains on my hands
See, the problem lies in my own pride
Lord, I need Your help 'cause by myself
It seems I found a way, I found a way
To turn freedom into slavery
I found a way, I found a way
To turn freedom into slavery
I found a way, I found a way
To turn freedom into slavery
I found a way, I found a way
I found a way, I found a way
I found a way, I'm free, I'm free
You know I found a way, I found a way
The lyrics to Anthem Lights' "Freedom Into Slavery" explore the paradox of freedom and how the knowledge of forgiveness can lead to self-imposed chains. The singer expresses doubt about their own goodness and wonders if they would behave differently if they didn't know they could be forgiven. The freedom they have been given becomes a burden because it is entangled with the fear of making mistakes and being judged.
The chorus states that the singer has found a way to turn freedom into slavery, which is an ironic statement. The freedom they thought was theirs has become a prison because it makes them doubt themselves and distance themselves from God. The singer acknowledges their own pride as the root of the problem and seeks help from God to break free from their self-imposed chains.
Overall, the message of the song is that true freedom can only be found in humbling oneself and accepting forgiveness, rather than using it as an excuse to distance oneself from God.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I wonder
I sometimes question and ponder
Sometimes I feel
I sometimes experience
If I didn't know that You would forgive me
If I didn't know that You would pardon me
If it wasn't so real
If it wasn't so true
Maybe I would act different
Perhaps, I would behave dissimilarly
Maybe I would be blameless
Maybe I would have no fault
With forgive and forget left out
If forgiveness and oblivion are excluded
Would I still think all this wrong was okay?
Will I still believe that all this wrong is acceptable?
Why do I push You away
Why do I repulse You
When I know You can't be gone?
When I know that You can never be absent?
Why do I fade black and white to gray
Why do I turn black and white into gray?
When the lines are all clearly drawn?
When the boundaries are all straightforward?
It seems I found a way, I found a way
It appears that I discovered a method, I discovered a method
To turn freedom into slavery
To convert liberty into servitude
Still it's making me wonder
However, it continues to cause me to speculate
See, I believe that I'm free
I perceive that I am emancipated
But somehow knowing I can do anything
But somehow, being aware that I can do anything
Has put chains on me
Has restricted me
Right here beside You
Right here close to You
I got all that I need
I possess everything that I require
But still I choose to run away
Yet, I still prefer to escape
Just because I'm free
Only because I am unbound
So why do I run just 'cause I can
Therefore, why do I flee only because I am able
When I don't even got chains on my hands
When I am not even bound by chains on my hands
See, the problem lies in my own pride
The predicament arises from my own vanity
Lord, I need Your help 'cause by myself
Lord, I require Your assistance because on my own
I found a way, I'm free, I'm free
I discovered a method, and now I am liberated, I am liberated
Contributed by Amelia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.