Norma Jean - The End of All Things Will Be Televised Lyrics
Lyrics
All we know will be folded. A day of clouds. Creation waits…
Get away blue collar instrument
Get away politicians and priests
Refined to consume
It will be laid down
On the necks of the pure
The proud and the damned
Your day will come
Turn the page, embrace your
Comforting company
The sun beats down on your
Comforting company
Everything is burning because
Tonight the south is on fire!
The south is on fire.
Creation waits in eager expectation. Anxious. Patient.
Heaven will pause.
Get away blue collar instrument
Get away politicians and priests
Refined to consume
It will be laid down
On the necks of the pure
The proud and the…
Comforting company
The sun beats down on your
Comforting company
Everything is burning from your
Comforting company
The sun beats down on your
Comforting company
The seas are boiling
Out comes the light
Awake and rehearse
Out comes the demons
I never saw you
Out comes the mercy
Shutting down hell
Bite down until it bleeds
Out comes the exit
All things complete
O infamous city, full of turmoil, I'm terrified at your collapse
The kings, they shudder with horror, their faces distorted with fear
Endless empires gently brushed away in the blink of an eye
All Creation, wilted.
Captain, the ship is sinking. Have mercy.
Video
The End Of All Things Will Be Televised
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on January 1, 2006, as part of their album *Redeemer*, Norma Jean’s "The End of All Things Will Be Televised" stands as a seismic proclamation, not just a song, but a prophetic warning etched in sound. It plunges into the deepest anxieties and ultimate hopes of humanity, portraying a world teetering on the brink of divine intervention, where all earthly systems are scrutinized and ultimately dissolved. This isn't just a commentary on society; it's a stark, unvarnished look at the eschatological landscape through a biblical lens, calling us to confront the temporary nature of our comforts and the eternal weight of God’s plan.
The song immediately challenges the very foundations of human society and power, urging us to step back from the instruments of worldly ambition—from the "blue collar instrument" of labor and industry, to the "politicians and priests" representing governmental and religious institutions. This critique extends to the human tendency to be "refined to consume," highlighting a society geared towards acquisition rather than spiritual truth. This resonates deeply with Scripture's warnings against placing trust in human strength or worldly systems, as seen in Jeremiah 17:5, which cautions against those who "trust in man and make flesh their strength," and Isaiah 2:22, which advises us to "stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils." The song suggests that these human constructs, whether economic, political, or even seemingly spiritual yet self-serving, will ultimately be held accountable and "laid down."
As the narrative unfolds, it paints a vivid picture of impending judgment, a universal reckoning that will touch "the pure, the proud and the damned." This imagery powerfully evokes the biblical concept of a day when all will stand before God, as described in Romans 14:10, where "we will all stand before God’s judgment seat." The lyrics then intensify, depicting a world in chaotic upheaval, where "the sun beats down" on our "comforting company," and "everything is burning." The striking declaration that "the south is on fire" and "the seas are boiling" conjures apocalyptic scenes straight from Scripture, reminiscent of Malachi 4:1, which speaks of a coming day "burning like an oven," and 2 Peter 3:10-12, describing the heavens passing away with a roar and the elements being "destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." It’s a powerful metaphor for widespread judgment and the inescapable consequences of humanity's choices.
Amidst this terrifying vision of destruction, a profound spiritual yearning emerges. "Creation waits in eager expectation. Anxious. Patient. Heaven will pause," the lyrics declare, echoing Romans 8:19-22, which speaks of creation groaning and longing for its liberation from bondage to decay. This segment injects a moment of cosmic anticipation, suggesting that even the heavens hold their breath for God's ultimate decree. Then, a shift occurs as divine intervention begins: "Out comes the light," a symbol of truth and ultimate revelation, followed by the sobering "Out comes the demons" and the awe-inspiring "Out comes the mercy / Shutting down hell." This sequence encapsulates the full spectrum of God’s final actions—judgment upon evil, yet also the manifestation of His profound mercy, ultimately sealing the fate of darkness, as Revelation 20:14 states, "Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire." The call to "Awake and rehearse" serves as an urgent spiritual summons, urging preparedness for what is to come.
The song culminates in a stark finality, where "All things complete." The lament, "O infamous city, full of turmoil, I'm terrified at your collapse," coupled with the image of "kings" shuddering and "endless empires gently brushed away in the blink of an eye," powerfully mirrors the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18 and the prophetic warnings in Isaiah 2:12-17 about the day of the Lord, when all human pride and power will be brought low. This vision underscores the ephemeral nature of all earthly kingdoms and the absolute sovereignty of God. The final, desperate plea, "Captain, the ship is sinking. Have mercy," is a raw, unadorned cry for grace in the face of inevitable judgment. It’s a universal prayer, a recognition of human frailty before divine power, a longing for the mercy promised in passages like Psalm 51:1. "The End of All Things Will Be Televised" ultimately serves as a stark, yet inspiring, reminder to look beyond the transient stage of the world, to seek true redemption, and to find solace in the ultimate mercy that shuts down hell itself, preparing us for a future where only God’s eternal kingdom remains.