Heaven Bound And Glory Be
Kevin Devine Lyrics

A reporter in a jail room, whispering her source to a dying bulb
An undercover journalist is sharing sensitive information in secret to a fading light.

While the prince is in a fable, peaceful in his cradle, convinced of the impossible:
Meanwhile, an innocent child dreams of magical possibilities and lives in a happy fantasy world of peace.

All those wicked words I used to build my wild Western truth!
I relied on negative stereotypes and harsh language to create an illusion of the Wild West.

I was just following the rules. Yeah, I did what I had to do.
I did what I thought was necessary and justified, even if it was unpleasant or hurtful to others.

So now its later than it needs to be and in the dulcet tones of dream, the prince atop his chariot, Heaven bound & glory be.
As time passes, the child's peaceful dreams of glorious, heavenly possibilities remain.

A mother in a market chases after children that she barely knows. While the father on the barstool, dropped off by his carpool, is playing a familiar role:
A mother struggles to keep track of her children while their father spends his time at a bar, neglecting his parental duties.

I used to be a conquering king. I watched the slow stars shoot & swing. When I'd wake, the world would sing. Now, I can't hear anything.
The father reminisces about his past glory when he felt like a ruler of the world, but now he feels disillusioned and disconnected from reality.

So now its later than it needs to be and while his stranger family sleeps, the king looks for his castle, Heaven bound & glory be.
As time passes and his family sleeps, the father yearns for a sense of belonging and purpose like a king looking for his lost castle in the sky.

There's a myth we must've made, one we're spreading every day. In every dying dream we grieve, the humming hole we fight and feed. It's the loving lives we long for, Heaven bound & glory be.
The myth that we spread and believe in every day is the idea that we can find true love and happiness even in the face of pain and loss. It's a longing for a life that brings us closer to heaven.

A man in a hotel room, tangled to his teeth by the telephone. He's waiting on a woman, wondering what she's doing, and pacing so his pulse won't slow.
A man anxiously awaits a phone call from a woman he cares about and tries to distract himself from the anxiety.

He drums his legs and pulls his hair; he carves her dimples in the air. The raging world has spooked him scared, and he don't want her lost out there.
He expresses his worry and stress through physical movement, imagining and visualising his loved one's features, and fears for her safety in the unpredictable world outside.

So now it's later than it needs to be and though his aching eyes want sleep, against all rationality, against everything he believes, he prays for her protection, Heaven bound & glory be.
As time passes, he feels tired and conflicted, but he still prays for her safety despite his doubts and uncertainties.

I pray for your protection, Heaven bound & glory be.
His prayer is a plea for his loved one's safety and well-being.