1) Arena is a British … Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1) Arena is a British progressive rock band founded in 1995 by Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer (drummer in Marillion's original line-up). All of the band's lyrics are written by Nolan.
Musically the band's style ranges from symphonic to hard rock. Some of the band's recent albums have a similar sound to another of the bands that Nolan has participated in, Shadowland.
Guitarist Jonathan "John" Mitchell has been involved in several other projects like KINO (the UK band), The Urbane, It Bites and Frost*. In these bands he sings in addition to his usual guitar duties.
2) Arena is a breakcore pop act from Russia that released their 4-track EP "Poptrip" in December 2006.
And in 2008 they released another 4-track EP "The Hero of Hyrule".
3) Arena is a Greek punk band from Agrinio
4) Arena is a vaporwave artist from Austin, Texas
A State of Grace
Arena Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vengeance lies behind these eyes
Glaring from the pulpit
As the Fallen Angels follow me
Plageristic sermons
Hiding voyeuristic undertones
Foolishly they will embrace
And ignorant they follow me
The kind of place that I come from
You turned your back on all the signs
That bore the words of warning
Come to me my simple child
Tear apart your innocence
Pray with me beloved son
And I will help you find a way
Think before you throw yourself
Upon the tables and the merchant s
Are you sure this temple
Isn't just another cruel perversion?
You've never truly known
The kind of place that I come from
You turned your back on all the signs
That bore the words of warning
Don't look for comfort in this house of mine
Don't ask for mercy at my image or my shrine
Don't seek forgiveness at this house of mine
Don't build a temple here
And wait for me to walk into the fire
I will make this promise now
A simple thing, a sacred vow
Come with me my pretty Angel
I will show you how to fly
We will fall together
Into unforgiving night we plunge!
Chained by sin and clothed by guilt
We will be as one forever
Don't look for comfort in this house of mine
Don't ask for mercy at my image or my shrine
Don't look for comfort in this house of mine
Don't break the Holy bread or drink the Holy wine
Don't seek forgiveness at this house of mine
Don't build a temple here
And wait for me to walk into the fire
In "A State of Grace," Arena uses evocative imagery and religious language to explore the dangers of blindly following charismatic leaders who hide their true intentions behind a veneer of righteousness. The song suggests that those who are vulnerable and seeking guidance can be manipulated by those who pretend to offer salvation, but who in reality are driven by darker motives. The first verse introduces the theme of deception, with the singer describing someone who hides their true nature behind a "thinly-veiled cruel disguise" and lures followers with "plagiaristic sermons" and "voyeuristic undertones." The second verse shifts to a warning, with the singer urging listeners to "think before you throw yourself upon the tables and the merchants" and suggesting that the temple may be a "cruel perversion."
The chorus repeats the warning not to seek comfort, mercy or forgiveness in the "house" of the singer, who is likely a false prophet or cult leader. In the final verse, the singer makes a promise to a "pretty angel" that they will fall together, "chained by sin and clothed by guilt" and "be as one forever," further reinforcing the idea that the singer is a manipulative and dangerous figure.
Overall, "A State of Grace" is a cautionary tale of the dangers of blindly following charismatic leaders who use religion as a tool for their own ends. It warns against the temptation to seek simple answers to complex problems and encourages listeners to always question those who claim to have all the answers.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinly veiled, a cruel disguise
I am putting up a false front that is just barely hiding my true evil intentions
Vengeance lies behind these eyes
I am driven by the desire for revenge and it is reflected in my intense gaze
Glaring from the pulpit
I am preaching from a commanding position, conveying authority and power
As the Fallen Angels follow me
I am leading the disgraced and misguided individuals who have been cast out of society
Plageristic sermons
I am stealing and twisting the teachings of others, using them for my own twisted purposes
Hiding voyeuristic undertones
My sermons are laced with perverse and creepy underlying messages
Foolishly they will embrace
Despite the obvious moral issues, people will still blindly follow me
And ignorant they follow me
The people who follow me are naively unaware of my true nature and intentions
You've never truly known
You have never experienced the darkness and depravity of the place where I come from
The kind of place that I come from
My origins are in a dark and twisted world that you cannot comprehend
You turned your back on all the signs
You have overlooked all of the warning signs that should have alerted you to my true nature
That bore the words of warning
The signs were explicit and clear, and yet you did not heed them
Come to me my simple child
I am calling out to the innocent and naive, luring them into my world of darkness
Tear apart your innocence
I want to corrupt and destroy everything that is good and wholesome in you
Pray with me beloved son
I am manipulating you by using endearing and affectionate language
And I will help you find a way
I am offering an alluring path to follow, even if it leads to destruction
Think before you throw yourself
I am telling you to pause and consider before fully committing to my wicked ways
Upon the tables and the merchant s
Be careful before you fully engage in the sinful practices and dealings that I endorse
Are you sure this temple
Is the place where I bring you to worship truly the house of God?
Isn't just another cruel perversion?
Or is it just another sick and twisted imitation that I have created for my own purposes?
Don't look for comfort in this house of mine
Do not expect to find solace and healing in the place where I operate
Don't ask for mercy at my image or my shrine
Do not expect me to show you any compassion or kindness, even if you worship me like an idol
Don't seek forgiveness at this house of mine
Do not expect me to offer absolution or redemption to you in the place where I reign
Don't build a temple here
Do not create a spiritual dwelling place in the territory that I control
And wait for me to walk into the fire
And do not hope for me to lead you to salvation, because I will only lead you to destruction
I will make this promise now
I am going to make a pledge to you, even if it is an insincere one
A simple thing, a sacred vow
I will make it sound like a holy and solemn commitment, even though it is not
Come with me my pretty Angel
I am addressing you with flattery and endearment, trying to win over your trust
I will show you how to fly
I am offering to teach you a new and exciting way of life, even though it will end in freefall
We will fall together
We will both be doomed and ruined together
Into unforgiving night we plunge!
We will enter a dark abyss of sorrow and despair that has no hope of redemption
Chained by sin and clothed by guilt
We will both be weighed down by our transgressions and shame
We will be as one forever
We will be trapped together in a never-ending cycle of guilt and despair
Don't break the Holy bread or drink the Holy wine
Do not partake in any sacred rituals or traditions, as they have been distorted and corrupted in my realm
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BILL BELKNAP, RON FLYNT, STEVE ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind