Forgiveness
Dennis DeYoung Lyrics
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When fate comes calling your name
And in an instant the flame ignites
And nothing's ever the same
And you wonder
How things might have been
Yes you wonder
All your excuses and regrets
They sound so tired and old
And when you speak them no one forgets
They sound like tales you have told
So you suffer
Like you knew you would
Oh and you suffer
Like you know you should
Forgiveness waits for you
If you repent for your sin
Forgiveness through and through
'cause I know where you have been
I know just where you have been
And you suffer
All of your secrets hidden deep
Have come to settle the score
And every nightmare when you sleep
Waits patiently by your door
And you wonder
Has the die been cast
Oh yes you wonder
Can you change the past?
Forgiveness changes you
And gives you reason to live
Forgiveness through and through
But it ain't easy to give
No it ain't easy to give
So you suffer
Forgiveness waits for you
If you repent for your sin
Forgiveness through and through
'cause I know where you have been
I know just where you have been
And you suffer
The first verse of Dennis DeYoung's song Forgiveness suggests that life can be unpredictable, and that there may come a time when one experiences a major event that completely changes their life. A lightning strike is often associated with sudden and irreversible change, and the song compares this to fate. When this lightning strike occurs, it causes a flame to ignite, and this moment alters the trajectory of the singer's life. The chorus suggests that the singer struggles with the aftermath of this event, wondering how things could have been different, and filled with regret. He longs to shed the skin of his old life, but all he is left with are excuses and regrets.
The second verse makes it clear that the singer's life is defined by hidden secrets and past mistakes. These secrets have a way of coming back to haunt him, and his past mistakes have now caught up with him. The nightmares he experiences every night wait patiently by his door. The singer wonders whether he could have done anything differently, whether the die has already been cast and the path of his life has been shaped. The chorus again emphasises the necessity of forgiveness, suggesting that it is the only way out of the cycle of regret and suffering.
Overall, Dennis DeYoung's song Forgiveness is a heartfelt exploration of the importance of forgiving oneself and seeking forgiveness from others. It acknowledges the difficulty of this process and describes the pain and suffering it can cause. However, the song ultimately suggests that forgiveness is the key to a better future, one that can enable the singer to move on from his past mistakes and find meaning and redemption in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Once in a lifetime lightning strikes
Rarely does an opportunity present itself
When fate comes calling your name
When a moment that can change your life forever arrives
And in an instant the flame ignites
And suddenly an intense passion stirs up within you
And nothing's ever the same
And your life completely transforms for good or bad
And you wonder
And you ask yourself
How things might have been
What would have happened if you had chosen a different path
Can you shed your skin
Is it possible to leave behind your past mistakes and start anew
All your excuses and regrets
All the justifications and sorrowful memories
They sound so tired and old
They seem unconvincing and ineffective
And when you speak them no one forgets
And people remember your past faults despite your explanations
They sound like tales you have told
They resemble fictional stories rather than reality
So you suffer
So you bear the weight of your guilt and shame
Like you knew you would
Like you expected to because of the gravity of your actions
Forgiveness waits for you
A chance for redemption is available
If you repent for your sin
If you feel regretful and apologize for your wrongdoings
Forgiveness through and through
A pardon that extends to all aspects of your life
'cause I know where you have been
Because I understand what you have been through
And all of your secrets hidden deep
All the undisclosed information kept inside
Have come to settle the score
Have come to balance the wrongdoings
And every nightmare when you sleep
And every dreadful dream that haunts you at night
Waits patiently by your door
Awaits to confront you and make you face your conscience
And you wonder
And you question
Has the die been cast
Has the irreversible fate of consequences already been set
Can you change the past?
Is it possible to undo what has already been done
Forgiveness changes you
Absolution transforms you
And gives you reason to live
And provides you with a motive to continue living
But it ain't easy to give
But it's tough to offer it to others or to oneself
No it ain't easy to give
It's not a simple task, by any means
Contributed by Caleb R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.