VBS
Lucy Dacus Lyrics


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In the summer of '07 I was sure I'd go to heaven
But I was hedging my bets at VBS
The preacher in a t-shirt told me I could be a leader
Taught me how to build a fire and to spread the word

In the evening everybody went to worship and weep
Hands above our heads, reaching for God
Back in the cabin, snorting nutmeg in your bunk bed
You were waiting for a revelation of your own

Sedentary secrets like peach pits in your gut
Locked away like jam jars in the cellar of your heart
Waiting to be tasted and ultimately wasted
You were gonna win me over from the start

Your poetry was so bad
It took a lot to not laugh
You said that I showed you the light
But all it did in the end
Was make the dark feel darker than before

Your dad keeps his sleeves down through the summer for a reason
Your mother wears her makeup extra thick for a reason
When I tell you you were born and you are here for a reason
You are not convinced the reason is a good one

While you're going to sleep your mind keeps you awake
And it makes your heart beat fast and loud
There's nothing you can do but the only thing you found
Playing Slayer at full volume helps to block it out

Poetry was so bad
It took a lot to not laugh
You said that I showed you the light
But all it did in the end
Was make the dark feel darker than before




Dark feel darker than before
Dark feel darker than before

Overall Meaning

Lucy Dacus's song VBS is a nostalgic and introspective reflection on a past experience attending Vacation Bible School (VBS), a type of summer camp for children typically held by Christian churches. In the summer of '07, the singer was convinced she would go to heaven but also doubtful and hedging her bets at VBS, where she learned how to build a fire and spread the word. The evenings were filled with worship and weeping, but the singer's bunkmate was waiting for a personal revelation of their own. The singer's memories are contrasted with the present, where the singer reflects on the darkness that followed and plays loud music to drown out the noise of their own thoughts.


The song captures the complexity and ambiguity of adolescence and religious belief. The singer is both drawn to and skeptical of the religious teachings she receives, as she is trying to find her place in the world. She is critical of the simplistic messaging she received and the doubts and struggles it created. The song also captures the bittersweet sense of nostalgia for a time and a place that is gone forever. The memories are colored by the singer's later experiences and reflections, and she recognizes the limitations of that past experience.


Line by Line Meaning

In the summer of '07 I was sure I'd go to heaven
At the time, I had a strong belief in God and the afterlife


But I was hedging my bets at VBS
However, I was also unsure and keeping my options open by attending Vacation Bible School


The preacher in a t-shirt told me I could be a leader
During VBS, the preacher encouraged me to take charge and become a spiritual leader


Taught me how to build a fire and to spread the word
In addition to imparting religious knowledge, the preacher also showed me practical skills like building a fire


In the evening everybody went to worship and weep
During the evening, the other VBS attendees participated in emotional worship services


Hands above our heads, reaching for God
Their worship involved physically reaching upwards as if praying to God


Back in the cabin, snorting nutmeg in your bunk bed
Outside of VBS activities, I hung out with a friend who was experimenting with drugs like nutmeg


You were waiting for a revelation of your own
My friend was searching for his own spiritual or personal epiphany


Sedentary secrets like peach pits in your gut
My friend held secrets and emotions deep within him, like eating a peach and keeping the pit


Locked away like jam jars in the cellar of your heart
These secrets were hidden away, like jars of jam kept in a dark cellar


Waiting to be tasted and ultimately wasted
Despite being hidden away, these secrets would eventually be revealed or shared, risking their value being lost


You were gonna win me over from the start
Despite its risks, my friend was trying to connect with me and gain my trust


Your poetry was so bad
However, his attempts at poetry were poor and unappealing


It took a lot to not laugh
I had to suppress my laughter and remain respectful


You said that I showed you the light
Despite my friend's shortcomings, he expressed gratitude towards me for inspiring him in some way


But all it did in the end
However, ultimately, my influence caused more harm than good


Was make the dark feel darker than before
My friend's negative emotions and struggles with mental health were exacerbated rather than relieved


Your dad keeps his sleeves down through the summer for a reason
My friend's father conceals his tattoos with long sleeves, suggesting some degree of shame or regret


Your mother wears her makeup extra thick for a reason
My friend's mother uses heavy makeup, possibly to conceal or distract from some perceived flaw or insecurity


When I tell you you were born and you are here for a reason
Despite his family's insecurities, I try to reassure my friend that he has a purpose in life


You are not convinced the reason is a good one
However, my friend remains unconvinced and doubtful of his own worth


While you're going to sleep your mind keeps you awake
My friend's mind races with troubling thoughts and anxieties that keep him up at night


And it makes your heart beat fast and loud
These thoughts and anxieties cause physical symptoms, like an elevated heart rate


There's nothing you can do but the only thing you found
My friend feels helpless in the face of his anxieties, but has found solace in listening to loud music


Playing Slayer at full volume helps to block it out
Specifically, he listens to the intense rock band Slayer at loud volumes to drown out his worries and fears


Dark feel darker than before
This repetition drives home the idea that my influence on my friend's life exacerbated his mental health issues rather than improving them




Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Lucy Dacus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@sofiekulawiecova8855

In the summer of '07 I was sure I'd go to heaven
but I was hedging my bets at VBS
The preacher in a t-shirt told me I could be a leader
taught me how to build a fire and to spread the word



In the evening everybody went to worship and weep
hands above our heads, reaching for God
back in the cabin, snorting nutmeg in your bunk bed
you were waiting for a revelation of your own



Sedentary secrets like peach pits in your gut
locked away like jam jars in the cellar of your heart
waiting to be tasted and ultimately wasted
you were gonna win me over from the start



The poetry was so bad
it took a lot to not laugh
you said that I showed you the light
but all it did in the end
was make the dark feel darker than before



Your dad keeps his sleeves down through the summer for a reason
your mother wears her makeup extra thick for a reason
when I tell you you were born and you are here for a reason
you are not convinced the reason is a good one



While you're going to sleep your mind keeps you awake
and it makes your heart beat fast and loud
there's nothing you can do but the only thing you found
playing Slayer at full volume helps to block it out



The poetry was so bad
it took a lot to not laugh
you said that I showed you the light
but all it did in the end
was make the dark feel darker than before
dark feel darker than before
dark feel darker than before



All comments from YouTube:

@catherinebuttner4433

This song comes from around the time when I knew Lucy. We were both members of the same evangelical theatre group for teens. I was waiting/hoping she would write something about this time in her life lol!

@zainab5017

Omg wow

@zainab5017

How does it feel

@catherinebuttner4433

@@zainab5017 Surreal lol! Lucy I always knew was talented, but I didn't know she would end up a famous indie musician one day lol. Someday she will be playing on the mainstream radio stations I'm sure. I can't believe 15 years ago I was sitting across from her in the green room in-between scenes lol. She was super into Christianity at the time and I wasn't a believer at the time... Now we have flipped. I believe now and she doesn't anymore.

@zainab5017

You should meet her sometime ♥️

@catherinebuttner4433

@@zainab5017 like again lol? I haven't seen her in 15ish years but yeah it would be cool.

12 More Replies...

@carolinedixon4257

“Sedentary secrets like peach pits in your gut, locked away like jam jars in the cellar of your heart” MA’AM this is some of the most incredible songwriting I’ve ever heard please may I have your hand in marriage 💍

@christopherdean4833

Lucy Dacus better go big this year, she deserves it SO MUCH.

@JimInAnthem

What do you think now? Cover of Rolling Stone?

@ARTV-

Favorite song on the album. I was also raised in a super Christian household and I saw (and sadly relate to) so many of the things Lucy describes here, plus it's just straight ear candy.

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