In his own words (from his myspace page):
“For me it’s all about the SONG. I remember watching my father sitting at our dining room table for hours and hours with his pencil and pad crafting his songs; spending the time to find the perfect word, the perfect chord, the perfect melody. That really made an impression on me. When I write a song it really is a kind of science, an operation; but it isn’t mathematical or calculated, it is alive and breathing and moving. At the risk of sounding like a hippie on a soapbox, music is still powerful and holy and sacred to me. You can turn it into a product and a business, but you can’t start it that way. To me the genesis of a song has to be honest and unassuming. I truly believe that God hands me these gifts and it is my job to translate them as honestly as I can. You have to let a song be what it is. We can’t lose that. When I write songs, I like to focus on the fact that we are all the same and we are all just searching for answers and trying to make sense of everything. It's about exploring life and celebrating truth when you find it.”
Cold Black Sky
Sean McConnell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a while, stop and think
Do I really have to die to get this done?
Couldn't you just wave your hand?
Save my life, save this land
Every woman, child, and man under the sun
But if it be then let it be
And fullfill my prophecy
I'm lyin' in this bed I've made
All your debts have now been paid
[Chorus]
Herod, have me
Pilate, get your deed done
Mary, love me
Sometimes you're the only one
Peter, deny me
Judas, kiss me one more time
Father, kill me
Get this temple robe torn
Make me a cold black sky
Beat me 'til I cannot see
Flatter me in mockery
I won't take the blame but I'll pay your tolls
I don't need a scarlet robe
I've bled enough to make my own
It covers up my body like your sins cover your soul
But if it be then let it be
And fullfill my prophecy
Unblemished but not unafraid
I'm lyin' in this bed I've made
All your debts have now been paid
[Chorus]
Somewhere in the heart of me
A part of me has already died
So come on get the rest
How can you crucify the crucified?
[Chorus]
Sean McConnell's song Cold Black Sky is a poignant and heartbreaking exploration of the crucifixion of Jesus. The opening lines, "Do I have to take this drink? Take a while, stop and think. Do I really have to die to get this done?" reflect Jesus' own inner conflict and questioning before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. He wonders if there is any other way to accomplish his mission and save humanity, but ultimately surrenders to God's will. The lines, "But if it be then let it be, And fulfill my prophecy, Unblemished but not unafraid, I'm lying in this bed I've made, All your debts have now been paid" show the depth of Jesus' sacrifice and his willingness to suffer for the sake of others.
The chorus of the song references various figures from the story of Jesus' crucifixion, including Herod, Pilate, Mary, Peter, Judas, and God. These names represent the different aspects of the story - the betrayal, denial, love, and ultimate sacrifice. The line "Make me a cold black sky" refers to the darkness that descended during the crucifixion, a symbol of the despair and hopelessness that Jesus must have felt in that moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Do I have to take this drink?
Is it necessary for me to take this drink?
Take a while, stop and think
Please pause for a moment and consider
Do I really have to die to get this done?
Is it required for me to sacrifice my life to achieve this goal?
Couldn't you just wave your hand?
Is it possible for you to just miraculously make it happen?
Save my life, save this land
Preserve my life and save this nation
Every woman, child, and man under the sun
Every single person under the sun, regardless of gender or age
But if it be then let it be
But if it is predestined to occur, so be it
And fulfill my prophecy
And bring to fruition what has been predicted
Unblemished but not unafraid
Without any moral defects, but still scared
I'm lying in this bed I've made
I'm responsible for the situation I'm in
All your debts have now been paid
All the prices owed have now been settled
Herod, have me
Herod, take me
Pilate, get your deed done
Pilate, carry out your task
Mary, love me
Mary, love me
Sometimes you're the only one
Occasionally you're my sole ally
Peter, deny me
Peter, disown me
Judas, kiss me one more time
Judas, betray me once more with a kiss
Father, kill me
Father, take my life
Get this temple robe torn
Rip my temple garment apart
Make me a cold black sky
Turn me into a dark, empty sky
Beat me 'til I cannot see
Assault me until I am unable to perceive
Flatter me in mockery
Praise me insincerely
I won't take the blame but I'll pay your tolls
I won't hold myself accountable, but I'll still take care of your responsibilities
I don't need a scarlet robe
I don't require a red robe
I've bled enough to make my own
I've lost enough blood to create my red robe
It covers up my body like your sins cover your soul
It conceals my physical form just like your iniquities hide your inner self
Somewhere in the heart of me
Somewhere deep inside of me
A part of me has already died
Part of me has already perished
So come on get the rest
So come on and take the remainder
How can you crucify the crucified?
How can you execute someone who has already been crucified?
Contributed by Alyssa N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.