The Mercy Seat
Omnia Lyrics

Interpret sign and catalogue
Understand and document the signs and symbols of this place

A blackened tooth, a scarlet fog
The decay and destruction of this place, the looming danger

The walls are bare, black, bottom kind
The bleak and oppressive atmosphere of this place

They are sick breath at my hind
The feeling that danger is constantly lurking behind me

I hear stories from the chamber
Listening to the tales of this dark and ominous place

How Christ was born into a manger
The story of Christ's humble beginnings

And like some ragged stranger
He was treated as an outsider

Died upon the cross
The story of Christ's death

And might I say it seems so fitting in its way
The irony of Christ's death being a fitting end for him

He was a carpenter by trade
Christ's occupation before he became a religious figure

Or at least that's what I'm told
An admission of not knowing for sure what is true

My good hand tattooed E.V.I.L. all across its brother's fist
A declaration of one's own wickedness and the corruption present in others

That filthy five! They did nothing to challenge or resist
The frustration with those who are complacent in the face of evil

In heaven his throne is made of gold
Imagining the grandeur of God's throne in heaven

The ark of his Testament is stowed
The belief in the sacredness of God's words

A throne from which I'm told all history does unfold
The significance of God's role in the course of human history

Down here it's made of wood and wire
The crude and temporary nature of earthly thrones

And my body is on fire
The intense physical and emotional experience of being in this place

And God is never far away
Even in the depths of despair, there is still belief in God's presence

Into the mercy seat I climb
Seeking redemption and forgiveness from God

My head is shaved, my head is wired
The ritualistic preparation for facing God's judgement

And like a moth that tries to enter the bright eye
The desire to be close to God and feel his presence

So I go shuffling out of life just to hide in death awhile
The longing for an escape from the difficulties of life

And anyway I never lied
Asserting one's own honesty and integrity

My kill-hand is called E.V.I.L.
A repeated acknowledgement of one's own wickedness

Wears a wedding band that's G.O.O.D.
A contrast between outward appearances and inner reality

Tis a long-suffering shackle collaring all that rebel blood
The burden of one's own sins and the consequences that go with them

And the mercy seat is waning, And I think my head is glowing
The intensity of the judgement being faced and the fear that comes with it

And in a way I'm hoping, to be done with all this weighing of the truth
A longing for the judgement to be over, even if the outcome isn't certain

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
The idea of justice and punishment for wrongdoing

And anyway I told the truth
Reiterating one's own honesty and integrity

And I'm not afraid to die
A willingness to accept one's fate, whatever it may be

And the mercy seat is glowing, And I think my head is smoking
The intensity of the judgement increases and the fear builds

And in a way I'm hoping, to be done with all this truth and consequence
A desire to escape the burden of judgement and its consequences

Nor a motive why
The lack of clear explanation for one's actions

And the mercy seat is smoking, And I think my blood is boiling
The intensity of the judgement reaches a climax

Anyway I'm spoiling all the fun with all this weighing of the truth
Rejecting the idea of unfeeling justice and punishment

And I've got nothing left to lose
The recognition that the situation is already dire and there is little to be done to change it

But I'm afraid I told a lie
The admission of guilt and the realization that nothing can change the outcome of the judgement