Forgiven
ben harper the innocent criminals Lyrics
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I will catch your tears from falling; until from my hands they poor
You can leave me abandoned, I'll be here if you walk back in
Like the rest I have been branded far beneath the skin
So far beneath the skin
You shall be, you shall be, you shall be Forgiven
Here I have been standing but the time has come and gone
I tried singing to you, but you turned my words to stone
Here I have been waiting, it seems for quite a while
Changed all my reflections
But inside still just a child
But inside still just a child
You shall be, you shall be, you shall be Forgiven
You shall be, you shall be, you shall be Forgiven
These eyes weren't made for crying; This love wasn't made to waste
These arms weren't made for battle, but to share in your embrace
You shall be, you shall be, you shall be Forgiven
You shall be, you shall be, you shall be Forgiven
The song "Forgiven," by Ben Harper, is a reflection on the nature and power of forgiveness. The opening verse sets the tone for the song, as Harper declares his patient willingness to wait for his loved one, catching her tears until they stop flowing. The following lyrics speak to the heart of the song's message: that forgiveness is a powerful force that can heal even the deepest wounds.
Harper acknowledges that his loved one has abandoned him, but he remains open to her return, despite the pain he has endured. He also acknowledges that, like so many others, he has been labeled and relegated to a place "far beneath the skin" by society, but he chooses to rise above those constraints by extending forgiveness.
The chorus repeats the phrase "You shall be forgiven" as a mantra, powerful in its simplicity. Harper indicates that forgiveness is the only option for him in this scenario, as he is not made for battling or wasting love. Instead, his heart and arms were made for embracing and sharing love. "Forgiven" is a powerful ode to the transformative and healing power of forgiveness, urging listeners to extend it to those who have wronged them.
Line by Line Meaning
I will wait like nothing; I have ever waited for
I am willing to wait for you like I have never waited for anything before.
I will catch your tears from falling; until from my hands they pour
I will comfort you and catch your tears until they stop falling.
You can leave me abandoned, I'll be here if you walk back in
Even if you decide to leave me, I will be waiting for you with open arms if you ever decide to return.
Like the rest I have been branded far beneath the skin
I have been hurt before, just like many others, but my pain goes much deeper than just skin-deep.
So far beneath the skin
My pain runs deep and is not easily seen by others.
You shall be, you shall be, you shall be Forgiven
I am willing to forgive you for your mistakes.
Here I have been standing but the time has come and gone
I have been waiting for you for a long time, but time has passed quickly and the moment is gone now.
I tried singing to you, but you turned my words to stone
I have tried to express my feelings to you, but you have rejected them and made me feel like my efforts were in vain.
Here I have been waiting, it seems for quite a while
I have been waiting for you for what feels like a long time.
Changed all my reflections
I have tried to change how I see myself and how I view the situation, but it hasn't made much of a difference.
But inside still just a child
Despite my efforts to mature and grow, I still feel vulnerable and helpless like a child.
These eyes weren't made for crying; This love wasn't made to waste
I wasn't meant to cry and my love for you wasn't meant to be thrown away.
These arms weren't made for battle, but to share in your embrace
My arms were meant to hold and comfort you, not fight against you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BEN C HARPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind