A favorite band of mine is Extreme. They go back, but a refresher is their 90s radio hits More Than Words, Hole Hearted, Get The Funk Out, or more recently having Play With Me featured on Netflix’ Stranger Things.
Good favorites have a Why – an article I definitely plan to write about …many years ago.
Until then, I’ll just placehold it for Extreme: world-class musicianship, affecting song-writing, and lyrical content that’s evocative and meaningful. But that’s not what I’m on about right now.
Their new album “Six” is half good, half great. And that includes one song I can’t quit called “X Out”. It’s all there: great playing and affective execution (with a stimulating Tribe of Judah vibe). It’s pretty intense – listen while you read:
The song is also lyrically just PACKED with references, mostly from the Bible. And Shakespeare. (Yes, “Shakespeare-or-the-Bible” quizzes are fun, but this article is just a reference job.)
And in 2023, I expected surely some enterprising nerd had tagged all those references, but no!
So guess who’s the nerd now? 🪞
(Of course some dudes have already interpreted the lyrics, but I say just go read the sources, and interpret from there! : )
Hope someone finds this useful!
[Verse 1] Forgive me Father In Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confession starts with this line show me your unfailing love Psalm 17:7-8 Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. There is no other Deuteronomy 4:39 the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. (Also: 1 Samuel 21:9, 1 Kings 8:60, 9× in Isaiah, Daniel 2:11, Daniel 3:29, Joel 2:27, Mark 12:31, Mark 12:32, Acts 4:12, 1 Corinthians 8:4) have Mercy on your wayward son Luke 15:11-32 The Parable of the Prodigal Son From grace I fell Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. opened up my eyes in hell Luke 16:19-31 Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus brimstone burning, crying out in agony ↑ Father send someone ↑ quench the fire from my tongue ↑ where the worm’s eternal Mark 9:44-48 Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched. and, I’m crying out in agony ↑ [Chorus] Sun burns out and it fades to black Joel 3:15 The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will cease their shining. (Also: Joel 2:31, Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:12) there’s no way I’m gonna make it back Luke 16:19-31 Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus out of time and I’m running out of light ↑ X Out X Out, Faith 1 Corinthians 13:13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. (Also: 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:8) X Out X Out, Hope ↑ X Out X Out, Love ↑ [Verse 2] Behold a flower Psalm 103:14-16 As for man, his days are like grass — he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known. flourishing then falls away ↑ Know not the hour Matthew 24:36-44 The Day and Hour Unknown number of or length of days Psalm 90:12-17 teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom Save your breath MacBeth Act 5 Scene 5 Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. on a stage a strutter frets ↑ just another tale being told by an idiot ↑ Vanity ↑ full of sound and fury ↑ whistling past your weathered epitaph ↑ [Bridge] Rich man blessed in purple thread Luke 16:19-31 Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus Poor man begging for a crust of bread ↑ like the poor the rich are born to die ↑ One man suffering forever damned ↑ the other in the bosom of Abraham ↑ looking on beyond the great divide ↑ Darkness drapes both sun and moon Ecclesiastes 12:1-2 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, … before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; (Also: Joel 3:15, Joel 2:31, Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:12) after the rain storm clouds return ↑ Strong men bow
and the housekeepers quakeEcclesiastes 12:3 when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, (Also: Matthew 27:54?) Severed is the silver chord (cord) Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 before the silver cord is snapped, and the gold bowl is broken, and the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken into the well; and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. (Also: Silver Cord metaphysical term) broken like the golden gourd ↑ dust returns to death
from whence it came↑ Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Eric Warfield / Gary Cherone / Jordan Ferreira / Nuno Bettencourt
X Out lyrics © Calhoun Enterprises LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.