harryfronman Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 So, i'm new to this board thing, so i'm not sure if this opinion has been posted or not. Anyways... I was listening to Thoughts of a Dying Atheist the other day, and I had a revelation about the potential meaning of the lyrics. On first listen, it appears that the character of the song, whom i assume is an atheist, is afraid of thinking about death. However, after hearing the song about a hundred times, I finally realized the irony in the lyrics. To express his fear, the atheist uses the term "It scares the hell out of me." Now, atheists, by definition, don't believe in an afterlife, therefore they don't believe in hell. Does this mean that, in fact, there is no fear at all, and that he uses the word "hell" as a mockery of people who believe in the afterlife? Or is this just an oversight by Matthew Bellamy, who is just trying to express actual fear? What are your thoughts on "Thoughts of a Dying Atheist?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karita Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 I think its about an atheist thinking that there might be a hell so because he hasn't believed in God during his life, he thinks he might go to hell. Simple as that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ06 Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 ALL I know is that they are BRILLIANT lyrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryfronman Posted September 22, 2007 Author Share Posted September 22, 2007 No, see you missed my point. It's not as simple as that, because an atheist can't be scared the hell out of something, because, to atheists, there is no hell. Which makes the lyrics complicated, not simple. Nice try, though. Any other thoughts, perhaps more constructive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karita Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 you didn't get it, the person is thinking that the end is near and THERE MIGHT BE a hell and heaven, so he is scared because his whole life he has been sure there isn't a hell or heaven. now that he is going to die, he can't do anything about it, because its too late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryfronman Posted September 22, 2007 Author Share Posted September 22, 2007 Yeah, that's what i first got out of it. But if he isn't sure whether there is a hell or not, then saying that it "scares the hell out of" him, means he's not even sure if he is scared. He could have said "it scares the fuck out of me" or something more elegant, and not use the word "hell", or something related to religion. My question, i guess, is: was it a mistake to use the word hell, or is there some deeper meaning to his choice of words? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seregon Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Yes it is irony the same as the lyrics in Fury "and we'll pray that there's no God" that is irony to the max they aren't very hard lyrics to understand to be honest, all the songs on Absolution represent something coming to an end, this "atheist" person whilst they are dying may be having second thoughts on how they have led their life and are beginning to regret it. But anyway are you saying whoever uses such terms questions thier religious beliefs? From "oh my god" to "what the hell?" to "Jesus Christ!"? Terms tend to have more than one set meaning Anyway back to the song I don't really like it to be honest I just find the melody really irritating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
static shadows Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 To express his fear, the atheist uses the term "It scares the hell out of me." Now, atheists, by definition, don't believe in an afterlife, therefore they don't believe in hell. Does this mean that, in fact, there is no fear at all, and that he uses the word "hell" as a mockery of people who believe in the afterlife? Or is this just an oversight by Matthew Bellamy, who is just trying to express actual fear? Matt is very fond of irony Megalomania too: "Paradise comes at a price that I am not prepared to pay" - i.e. heaven isn't worth sacrificing your life for. He has spoken about TOADA lyrics before saying that they're about an athiest who's scared of death. When you are an atheist you have to come to terms with no life after death, just oblivion, which is a pretty scary concept. The line your talking about, for me, seems to indicate he believes this is why many people are religious - they are frightened of death. (welcome to the board btw, best newbie thread i've seen in ages) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagnumVFD Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 The lyrics seem pretty straight forward unless you are trying to look for the "hidden meaning". Besides, TOADA has the best guitar solo ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryfronman Posted September 22, 2007 Author Share Posted September 22, 2007 Thanks. So yeah, i guess matt is a fan of irony. K, that sort of cleared that up. And i'm not looking for a "hidden meaning," I was just wondering if other people thought that matt was aware of the irony of using "it scares the hell out of me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozza Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 I think TOADA's chorus is diabolical and I rarely ever listen to it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mai_taylor24 Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Yeah but it has the best lyrics of any muse song imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juuso Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Yeah but it has the best lyrics of any muse song imo. Scares the hell out of me And end is all I can see *wails* na-naa-nana-na-naanasomethingshit Yep, definate classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mai_taylor24 Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 He wails in every song if you hadn't noticed Eerie whispers Trapped beneath my pillow You won't let me see Your memories And I know you're in this room I'm sure I heard you sigh Floating in between Where our worlds collide And I know the moment's near And there's nothing we can do Look through a faithless eye Are you afraid to die? I can name a lot worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozza Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 I can name a lot worse. Follow through Make your dreams come true Don't give up the fight You will be all right Cause there's no one like you In the universe Don't be afraid What your mind conceives You should make a stand Stand up for what you believe And tonight we can truly say Together we're invincible And during the struggle They will pull us down But please, please let's use this chance to Turn things around And tonight we can truly say Together we're invincible Do it on your own Makes no difference to me What you leave behind What you choose to be and whatever they say Your soul's unbreakable And during the struggle They will pull us down But please, please let's use this chance to Turn things around And tonight we can truly say Together we're invincible Together we're invincible And during the struggle They will pull us down Please, please let's use this chance to Turn things around And tonight we can truly say Together we're invincible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mai_taylor24 Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Exactly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U-Mos Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Follow through Make your dreams come true Don't give up the fight You will be all right Cause there's no one like you In the universe Don't be afraid What your mind conceives You should make a stand Stand up for what you believe And tonight we can truly say Together we're invincible And during the struggle They will pull us down But please, please let's use this chance to Turn things around And tonight we can truly say Together we're invincible Do it on your own Makes no difference to me What you leave behind What you choose to be and whatever they say Your soul's unbreakable And during the struggle They will pull us down But please, please let's use this chance to Turn things around And tonight we can truly say Together we're invincible Together we're invincible And during the struggle They will pull us down Please, please let's use this chance to Turn things around And tonight we can truly say Together we're invincible Yeah, great isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunge Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 TOADA has always been one of my favourite Muse songs, I love everything about it. It could so easily have been a great single off Absolution, the chorus is catchy as hell and the solo is my favourite of any Matt solos . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 you didn't get it, the person is thinking that the end is near and THERE MIGHT BE a hell and heaven, so he is scared because his whole life he has been sure there isn't a hell or heaven. now that he is going to die, he can't do anything about it, because its too late. Well that would make him Agnostic and not an Atheist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higginst Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I was gonna say that but then my friend and I are atheists but we have this joke that "what if we were wrong and then when the apocalypse comes jesus is like flying over everyone wicked-witch-of-the-west style cackling and pointing and laughing evil-y and we're just like "o, shit :$" and trudge down a staircase to hell" Very offensive to one Christian we told, so it's pretty much still an atheist comment, because we're of course, taking the piss. All I can say is it doesn't scare the hell outa me and I wouldn't count on coming across too many Christians on this forum, sure there'll be some... but i wouldn't know how many. *starts to spin wildly off topic* Good lyrics anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrallen Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 haha. im christian. and i am completely obsessed with muse just because you believe in one thing doesnt mean that you cant like or admire people that have a different set of beliefs. i have nothing against matthew bellamy and think TOAD is one of muse's greatest songs to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuffitv3 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Why you people always gotta bag on Invincible? Back on topic I don't really imagine an atheist being scared of death. I mean we all just gonna end up in a box six feet under. Not really that scary of a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higginst Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Christians are all good.....as with all religious people.... except when they try to influence other, non religious people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrallen Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Christians are all good.....as with all religious people.... except when they try to influence other, non religious people exactly. you dont want to hear us try to convince you, and i dont want to hear you try to convince me so all in all....Muse > religion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higginst Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 and i'm more than happy trying to convince people of how great muse are ah, look at us- one big peaceful co-operating happy muse-loving community Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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