Heart Attack
Corey Smith Lyrics

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I drove to Galilee this morning
White-knuckled in the pew
I heard a good man preach a Gospel
I shook his hand when he was through
Though we marvel at the Maker through different colored window panes

We love the same red letters
Both take the bread and wine

But his truth is bold-print in the Scripture
Mine's hidden in between the lines
He sees a narrow path to Heaven. I see a river deep and wide

There's east-west
It's anybody's guess
Who's damned, who's blessed
Or more wicked than the rest
Oh, the answers are a heart attack away

I flew over Bethlehem this morning
Heavy heart upon the ground
Jesus came to feed the hungry
Still people are starving all around
Seems we never love a neighbor who we don't see eye-to-eye

I keep looking up to Heaven
Afraid to fight the fire below
Singing "Glory, Hallelujah!"
While the hell around us grows
Always crying for a savior instead of being one myself

There's north-south, with and there's without
There's rich
There's poor
One's peace, another's war
So happiness remains a heart attack away

The only truth I know anymore, the only truth I know
The only truth I know anymore is there's no truth at all

There's east, west
It's anybody's guess
There's north and there's south
There's with and there's without
Cross your chest, it's all a heart attack away
Hey, hey I

T's all a heart attack away
Oh, it's all a heart attack

Overall Meaning

The song "Heart Attack" by Corey Smith is a poignant commentary on the division and disparity that exists in the world despite our shared beliefs and values. The opening verse finds the singer attending a church service and witnessing the preaching of a "good man" who shares the same fundamental Christian beliefs. However, while they both love the same "red letters" and partake in communion, the singer notes that their interpretations differ. The preacher sees a "narrow path" to heaven, while the singer sees a "river deep and wide." This juxtaposition highlights the vast differences in how people interpret and apply religious teachings and doctrines, leading to division and conflict.

The second verse shifts focus to the world outside the church, where the singer observes the extreme poverty and hunger that exists despite the supposed teachings of Jesus to help the less fortunate. The final verse expresses the singer's frustration with his own inability and unwillingness to take action, instead relying on a "savior" to fix the world's problems. The repeated line "happiness remains a heart attack away" emphasizes the precarious state of our world, where joy and peace can be lost in an instant and the answers to our problems can seem just out of reach.

Overall, "Heart Attack" is a powerful reflection on the dissonance between religious teachings and the reality of the world we live in, as well as our own shortcomings in rising to the challenge and making a difference.

Line by Line Meaning

I drove to Galilee this morning
I went to a religious service and felt nervous during it.

White-knuckled in the pew
I was gripping the bench tightly, feeling tense.

I heard a good man preach a Gospel
I listened to a preacher deliver a religious message.

I shook his hand when he was through
I thanked the preacher personally afterward.

Though we marvel at the Maker through different colored window panes
While we may have different approaches to faith and God.

We love the same red letters
We both cherish the teachings of Jesus, written in the Bible.

Both take the bread and wine
We participate in the Christian sacrament of communion.

But his truth is bold-print in the Scripture
The preacher's views align clearly with the Bible's text and teaching.

Mine's hidden in between the lines
My interpretation of the Bible is more nuanced and open to interpretation.

He sees a narrow path to Heaven. I see a river deep and wide
The preacher believes in rigid adherence to doctrine as the way to salvation, while I believe that there are many ways to a meaningful life and relationship with God.

There's east-west
There are conflicts, divisions and differing opinions.

It's anybody's guess
Uncertainty prevails, despite our best efforts to make sense of life.

Who's damned, who's blessed
What fate awaits us in the afterlife, remains unclear.

Or more wicked than the rest
We struggle to judge or categorize people as good or bad.

Oh, the answers are a heart attack away
The existential and spiritual dilemmas of life are emotionally taxing and urgent.

I flew over Bethlehem this morning
I saw the birthplace of Jesus, a symbol of faith and hope.

Heavy heart upon the ground
Despite this spiritual manifestation, I feel sorrow for the hardships present in the world around me.

Jesus came to feed the hungry
Jesus' mission was to help the vulnerable and needy.

Still people are starving all around
However, despite history and progress, we still have issues of poverty, hunger and inequality.

Seems we never love a neighbor who we don't see eye-to-eye
Humans find it hard to love and respect people with different views, priorities and cultures.

I keep looking up to Heaven
I cling to the hope of divine help and salvation.

Afraid to fight the fire below
I feel hopeless in the face of earthly problems and injustices.

Singing "Glory, Hallelujah!"
I express my faith and detachment from materialism and hardship.

While the hell around us grows
Despite our desire to disconnect from reality and sufferings, they keep increasing and surrounding us.

Always crying for a savior instead of being one myself
Rather than take action through our own power and kindness, we pray for divine intervention.

There's north-south, with and there's without
Issues of identity, class and social division exist everywhere.

There's rich
Some people have wealth and privilege.

There's poor
Others suffer from difficulties, lack of resources and poverty.

One's peace, another's war
People around the world experience wars, conflicts and violence, while others enjoy peaceful and stable lives.

So happiness remains a heart attack away
The elusive feeling of happiness often feels like an unattainable goal in a world where suffering and tragedy are present.

The only truth I know anymore, the only truth I know
Despite my struggles and doubts, I remain devoted to the pursuit of truth and understanding.

The only truth I know anymore is there's no truth at all
However, I am also aware that certain aspects of life are intangible, elusive and unknowable, and that there may not be one answer to everything.

Cross your chest, it's all a heart attack away
Life's philosophical and existential questions can cause great anxiety and uncertainty.

Hey, hey I
A vocal interjection.

T's all a heart attack away
The song's main message, that the hard and confusing aspects of life can feel overwhelming and urgent, and that we should appreciate the present moment.

Oh, it's all a heart attack
Reiterating the sense of imminent struggle and conflict in life, and the weight that life's questions can have on one's mental and emotional health.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HEATHER LONGSTAFFE, JC SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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