Brenda Kahn has remained true to her original stylings as an advocate of wo… Read Full Bio ↴Brenda Kahn has remained true to her original stylings as an advocate of women in rock, and has recently become much more active on that front founding her own corporation, womenrock.com , for the purpose of further empowering and enabling women artists in the music industry. All the while Brenda Kahn has continued to create music that is an incredibly catchy mixture of punk fueled folk music centered on a set of intelligent and edgy lyrics.

Messiah
Brenda Kahn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Did you reinvent the wheel
While I was driving west
Do you find the best things here
Are only second best.
I tried and tried
And still I stumble to confess.

Now that he's gone

He's the chosen one
I keep my best shoes on
For when the Messiah comes

He said believe me I am
Only here to help you
I was there in Roman times
Drunker than the thieves
He cried and cried that night
I tore my tear-soaked sleeves

Now that he's gone
He's the chosen one
I keep my best shoes on
For when the Messiah comes

Inside everyone
Is something to see
Was it the candy apple sky
Or was it really me

Did you reinvent the wheel
While I went out for coffee
Do you write your problems down
And sell them for money
Do you play in a rock-n-roll band
And think it's kind of funny

Now that he's gone
He's the chosen one

I keep my best shoes on
For when the Messiah comes

Overall Meaning

The song "Messiah" by Brenda Kahn is a reflection on the idea of salvation, and the search for something or someone that can offer comfort and guidance in difficult times. The lyrics suggest a sense of confusion and uncertainty, as the singer wonders whether her own efforts are worthwhile, and whether the world around her contains anything of lasting value. The image of "reinventing the wheel" suggests a sense of frustration at the repetitive nature of life, while the line "the best things here are only second best" implies a sense of disillusionment at the lack of fulfillment offered by material goods or earthly pursuits.

The repeated phrase "Now that he's gone, he's the chosen one" offers a somewhat cryptic commentary on the nature of sacrifice, and the idea that selflessness and giving oneself up for a greater cause can lead to a kind of holy status. The image of torn sleeves suggests mourning or sadness, while the mention of Roman times and drunken revelry adds a sense of historical weight and continuity to the song's themes. Despite the darkness and uncertainty of the lyrics, there is a sense of hope in the repeated refrain "For when the Messiah comes", as if the singer is holding out for some kind of savior or redeemer to arrive and bring meaning to her life.

Line by Line Meaning

Did you reinvent the wheel
Did you try to create a solution for a problem that already has a solution?

While I was driving west
When you were doing something else, were they trying to do something important?

Do you find the best things here
Do you think that everything in this world is only second-best?

Are only second-best.
Are things only good enough, but not the best?

I tried and tried
Did I put in enough effort?

And still I stumble to confess.
And still, I am unable to admit my mistakes.

Now that he's gone
Now that he's not with me anymore,

He's the chosen one
He's become the one I hold in high esteem.

I keep my best shoes on
I am always prepared and put my best foot forward.

For when the Messiah comes
For when someone I think is amazing enters my life.

He said believe me I am
He said that he is someone I should trust.