Panic! at the Disco recorded their first demos while they were in high school. Shortly after, the band recorded and released their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005). Popularized by the second single, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies", the album was certified triple platinum in the US. In 2006, founding bassist Brent Wilson was fired from the band during an extensive world tour and subsequently replaced by Jon Walker. The band's second album, Pretty. Odd. (2008), was preceded by the single "Nine in the Afternoon". That album marked a significant departure from the sound of the band's debut. In 2009, Ross and Walker formed a new band, the Young Veins, leaving Urie and Smith as the sole remaining members of Panic! at the Disco.
Continuing as a duo, Urie and Smith released a new single, "New Perspective", for the movie Jennifer's Body, and recruited bassist Dallon Weekes and guitarist Ian Crawford as touring musicians for live performances. Weekes was later inducted into the band's lineup as a full-time member in 2010. The band's third studio album, Vices & Virtues (2011), was recorded solely by Urie and Smith in 2010, produced by John Feldmann and Butch Walker. Crawford departed once the tour cycle for Vices & Virtues ended in 2012.
As a three-piece, Urie, Smith, and Weekes recorded and released the band's fourth studio album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, in 2013. Prior to the release of the album, Smith unofficially left the band due to health and drug-related issues, leaving Urie and Weekes as the remaining members. The duo recruited guitarist Kenneth Harris and drummer Dan Pawlovich as touring musicians for live performances.
In 2015, Smith officially left the band after not performing live with them since his departure in 2013. Shortly thereafter, Weekes reverted to being a touring member once again, resulting in Panic! becoming Urie's solo project. In April 2015, "Hallelujah" was released as the first single from Panic! at the Disco's fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor (2016). In December 2017, Weekes officially announced his departure from the band. In March 2018, Panic! at the Disco released "Say Amen (Saturday Night)", the lead single from its sixth studio album, Pray for the Wicked (2018), which was released in June. Panic! at the Disco's seventh studio album, Viva Las Vengeance, was released on August 19, 2022.
On January 24, 2023, Urie officially announced that Panic! at the Disco would be disbanding following the conclusion of the Viva Las Vengeance Tour.
I Constantly Thank God for Esteban
Panic! at the Disco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forgive our sins, forged at the pulpit
With forked tongues selling faux sermons
'Cause I am a new wave gospel sharp
And you'll be thy witness
So gentlemen, if you're gonna preach
For God sakes preach with conviction
The conductor is beckoning
Come congregation, let's sing it like you mean it
No, don't you get it? Don't you get it?
Now don't you move
Strike up the band, whoa
The conductor is beckoning
Come congregation, let's sing it like you mean it
No, don't you get it? Don't you get it?
Now don't you move
Just stay where I can see you
Douse the lights
We sure are in for a show tonight
In this little number, we are graced by two displays of character
We've got the gunslinger extraordinaire
Walking contradiction
And I for one, can see no blood from the hearts
And the wrists you allegedly slit
And I for one, won't stand for this
If this scene were a parish you'd all be condemned
Strike up the band, whoa
The conductor is beckoning
Come congregation, let's sing it like you mean it
No, don't you get it? Don't you get it?
Now don't you move
Strike up the band, whoa
The conductor is beckoning
Come congregation, let's sing it like you mean it
No, don't you get it? Don't you get it?
Now don't you move, don't you move
Just stay where I can see you
Douse the lights
We sure are in for a show tonight
Just stay where I can see you
Douse the lights
We sure are in for a show tonight
Stay where I can see you
Douse the lights
Strike up the band, whoa
The conductor is beckoning
Come congregation, let's sing it like you mean it
No, don't you get it? Don't you get it?
Now don't you move
Strike up the band, whoa
The conductor is beckoning
Come congregation, let's sing it like you mean it
No, don't you get it? Don't you get it?
Now don't you move
Don't you move
Don't you move
Strike up the band
The song "I Constantly Thank God for Esteban" by Panic! at the Disco is a critique of the hypocrisy present in religious institutions. The lyrics denounce the fake afflictions and scripted sermons presented by religious leaders to an unsuspecting congregation. The lines "Give us this day our daily dose of faux affliction, Forgive our sins, forged at the pulpit" mock the idea of religious devotion as a mere facade for personal gain.
The song then introduces two characters, a "gunslinger extraordinaire" and a "walking contradiction," who have allegedly slit their wrists. The lead singer expresses doubt about the authenticity of their tragedies, suggesting that they are fabrications for attention. He concludes that if this scene were a parish, they would all be condemned - a commentary on the judgment present in religious communities.
The chorus, "Strike up the band, whoa, The conductor is beckoning, Come congregation, let's sing it like you mean it" is ironic in its tone. The conductor being beckoned is not God but a manipulative leader who calls for insincere performances of piety. The repeated line "Don't you get it?" is an appeal for the congregation to see through the deceit.
Overall, "I Constantly Thank God for Esteban" challenges the notion of religion as a means of control and encourages individuals to think for themselves and not be swayed by false prophets.
Line by Line Meaning
Give us this day our daily dose of faux affliction
Begin the day with a fake sense of injury
Forgive our sins, forged at the pulpit
Pardon the transgressions made under the church's authority
With forked tongues selling faux sermons
Deceitful preachers preaching false messages
'Cause I am a new wave gospel sharp
I am a modernizer of religious music
And you'll be thy witness
You'll bear witness to my music
So gentlemen, if you're gonna preach
If you're going to preach
For God sakes preach with conviction
Preach with strong belief
Strike up the band, whoa
Begin the music
The conductor is beckoning
The leader is summoning the music to start
Come congregation, let's sing it like you mean it
Everyone sing with true passion
No, don't you get it? Don't you get it?
Do you not understand?
Now don't you move
Don't move
Just stay where I can see you
Remain visible
Douse the lights
Turn off the lights
We sure are in for a show tonight
Tonight's performance will be entertaining
In this little number, we are graced by two displays of character
This song illustrates two contrasting characters
We've got the gunslinger extraordinaire
There is a skilled and audacious character
Walking contradiction
This character is a paradoxical person
And I for one, can see no blood from the hearts
I don't believe these characters have suffered truly
And the wrists you allegedly slit
And the wrists you claim to have cut
And I for one, won't stand for this
I will not condone this behavior
If this scene were a parish you'd all be condemned
If this were a church, you would all be reprimanded
Don't you move, don't you move
Do not move
Strike up the band
Begin the music
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: George Ross, Spencer Smith, Brendon Urie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sakura-chan
on Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time
tonight we are victorious champagne pouring over us all my friends we're glorious tonight we are victorious