Deliverance - Somber Theme (Where Are You) Lyrics
Lyrics
To the four corners and beyond
From the ghettos to the farms
Babies born / Babies die
Poor are broken / Rich are strong
Where are you?
There still are lies / And always truth
Hershey Bars and Baby Ruth's
Power's both weak and strong
For one right / There's plenty wrongs
Where are you?
Choices made / Even if not to choose
Deciding when or what to use
Wars will start / Wars will end
Pending on which side will bend
Where are you?
Hiding in a glass asylum
Living on and off your own kind
Ignore the world around you
Hoping for a new mankind
Medicine cures / Disease kills
Desert sands / And grassy hills
Grace abounds / Yet so does sin
But not for you in your world within
Where are you?
Close your eyes so you can see
The river flooded with mercy
There's so much more that we could do
Break the glass between me and you
Electric blue / translucent green
There's more than what our eyes have seen
A world of love / A world of hate
Bleeding hearts / For you they wait
Where are you?
Video
Somber Theme (Where Are You)
Meaning & Inspiration
Deliverance’s “Somber Theme (Where Are You),” released on November 6, 2014, is a profound musical meditation on the perceived absence of divine presence amidst the world’s profound disparities and suffering. The song immediately draws the listener into a stark examination of life’s inherent contradictions, painting a picture of a world where basic human experiences, like birth and death, are unevenly distributed in terms of fortune and hardship, a concept echoing the prophet Amos’s denunciation of those who oppress the poor while living in luxury (Amos 4:1, 6:1). The repeated plea, “Where are you?” isn’t just a question, but a lament, a cry born from witnessing the persistent presence of deceit alongside enduring truth, and the stark contrast between simple pleasures and the immense weight of societal wrongs, a sentiment that resonates with the Psalms’ expressions of distress in the face of injustice (Psalm 13:1).
The lyrics delve deeper into the human condition, touching upon the weight of decisions, both made and unmade, and the cyclical nature of conflict that hinges on compromise or capitulation. This resonates with the biblical understanding of human agency and its consequences, where choices have ripple effects, and the pursuit of peace often involves navigating complex power dynamics (Matthew 5:9). The song then shifts to a more personal and perhaps spiritual introspection, describing a state of being enclosed, possibly self-imposed, within an "asylum" of the mind, a retreat from the world's problems while vaguely hoping for a better future for humanity. This introspective turn brings to mind the cautionary words in Proverbs about the dangers of isolation and the importance of engaging with the world and its needs (Proverbs 18:1).
Further contemplation arises from the stark juxtaposition of healing and destruction, abundance and scarcity, grace and sin, all within one’s internal world, a state of being that deliberately excludes the external realities. This internal world, while offering a kind of peace, seems detached from the broader tapestry of existence, where grace and sin coexist in the external realm. The song urges a breaking down of these internal barriers, a “breaking of the glass” that separates the individual from the collective experience and from a potential encounter with divine mercy. This call to see with spiritual eyes, to recognize a "river flooded with mercy," echoes the profound generosity and compassion described in the Gospels (Luke 6:36).
The final verses speak of a reality that transcends the superficial, a world of both love and hate that exists beyond what is immediately perceived, waiting with "bleeding hearts." This anticipation, this longing for connection and redemption, aligns with the Christian hope for a redeemed creation and the ultimate triumph of love over hate. The "Somber Theme (Where Are You)" ultimately serves as a powerful call to re-evaluate our place in the world, to look beyond our own internal landscapes, and to actively seek the divine presence that the song questions, reminding us of the abundant mercy available and the potential for a unified humanity, a message deeply rooted in the New Testament’s emphasis on love, forgiveness, and reconciliation (1 John 4:7-8).