The song Building a Mystery is about…

[DataBreach]

The cryptic and esoteric song is by Sarah McLachlan. I have placed a time stamped video below which clearly shows her offer the hand gesture of 666 after completing the song.



I will place my answer in a spoiler and the lyrics below.

Besides the 666 hand gesture my biggest reasoning for my answer is that McLachlan refuses to explain the song when it is obvious the lyrics have obvious meaning. Below is the closest McLachlan has ever been to explaining the song.

Sarah explains the song as being "basically about the fact that we all... have insecurities to hide, and we often do that by putting on a facade." She also goes on to say that "unfortunately, if we just be who we are, that's usually the more attractive and beautiful thing".

Spoiler

The song is an ode to the Antichrist. Any specifics or clarity I will answer in the comments sections.

Lyrics

you come out at night
that's when the energy comes
and the dark side's light
and the vampires roam
you strut your rasta wear
and your suicide poem
and a cross from a faith
that died before Jesus came
you're building a mystery

you live in a church
where you sleep with voodoo dolls
and you won't give up the search
for the ghosts in the halls
you wear sandals in the snow
and a smile that won't wash away
can you look out the window
without your shadow getting in the way
oh you're so beautiful
with an edge and a charm
but so careful
when I'm in your arms

[chorus]
'cause you're working
building a mystery
holding on and holding it in
yeah you're working
building a mystery
and choosing so carefully

you woke up screaming aloud
a prayer from your secret god
you feed off our fears
and hold back your tears

give us a tantrum
and a know it all grin
just when we need one
when the evening's thin

oh you're a beautiful
a beautiful fucked up man
you're setting up your
razor wire shrine

[chorus]

[repeat chorus]

 

[thebluerider]

 

[Flemmy Stardust]

Who remembers this cute little diddy?



Now who remembers it being about borderline rape?

 

[thebluerider]

lol...i rarely know what reggae dudes are talking about. apparently beanie man was always singing about killing gays.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

It's called holding a guitar pick like a chick, dick.

 

[DataBreach]

It's called holding a guitar pick like a chick, dick.

Don't call me names moron. Holding a pick is one thing the way she turns her wrist and then elongates her fingers to show 666 has nothing to do with holding a pick. Do you even guitar?

 

[Flemmy Stardust]

lol...i rarely know what reggae dudes are talking about. apparently beanie man was always singing about killing gays.

he sneaks in the rape hand gesture in the video too

 

[ralphc1]

Sarah has one of the most beautiful voices in the world.

 

[DataBreach]

Sarah has one of the most beautiful voices in the world.

Agreed.

 

[thebluerider]

after reading the lyrics, i have no problem with the op's conclusions

he sneaks in the rape hand gesture in the video too

what's the rape hand gesture?

 

[DataBreach]

after reading the lyrics, i have no problem with the op's conclusions



what's the rape hand gesture?

Exactly. Once you read the lyrics and you know anything about the Biblical Antichrist it is very hard to not see it.

 

[ralphc1]

Exactly. Once you read the lyrics and you know anything about the Biblical Antichrist it is very hard to not see it.

Actually it probably applies to almost anyone. Most of us put up a false front to insulate ourselves from the world.

 

[DataBreach]

Actually it probably applies to almost anyone. Most of us put up a false front to insulate ourselves from the world.

I don't believe her explanation. There might be parts that are true but there is way too much meaning in the song, not to mention specifics, to believe this is a general ode to everyone. Artists are known for not divulging the true meaning to their songs. For instance she uses the term "building a mystery."

In the Bible there are two opposing forces, the Mystery of Christ and the Mystery of Iniquity.

Mystery of Christ = Holy System
Mystery of Iniquity = Unholy system

Her song implies one man building a mystery and implies this man abandoning faith, going after darkness, being beautiful yet jaded, revealing answers with a know it all grin.

I don't want to go too deep unless someone asks the correct question but the Bible compares the Antichrist with Judas. Both at one time embraced the light but then chose darkness and rebellion. Her song paints that exact picture. Read the lyrics again.

 

[Flemmy Stardust]

what's the rape hand gesture?

Was making fun of the 666 hand gesture.

 

[Mike]

I always took it to be about the brooding goth types. Constantly manufacturing this image to cover up the pain and hopelessness they feel in their souls.

 

[DataBreach]

I always took it to be about the brooding goth types. Constantly manufacturing this image to cover up the pain and hopelessness they feel in their souls.

Yeah...I think that is what she tries to get across too. But the lyrics speak of a man who is almost torchered by a God and knowledge of secret things. The bible speaks of the antichist being wiser than Daniel and being a person who understands dark sentences (Ezekiel 28:3, Daniel 8:23).

 

[Mike]

Yeah...I think that is what she tries to get across too. But the lyrics speak of a man who is almost torchered by a God and knowledge of secret things. The bible speaks of the antichist being wiser than Daniel and being a person who understands dark sentences (Ezekiel 28:3, Daniel 8:23).

I think a lot of artists try to throw some symbolism in to get people talking.


Imo if you look at the mid 90s when it came out, there were a lot of fad cultures out there that empty young people were latching onto to try to build a sense of self.

I think this was the beginning of post 80s burnout on materialistic culture, right when it was beginning another huge surge into the empty existential nightmare we live in today.


So you had sad, lost people trying to reinvent themselves as poets, artists, philosophers, anything different or more meaningful than pop culture. So you had people rebuilding their life into a mystery, trying to find something special they could belong to.

 

[odog]

I'm from the same city as her so I'll be sure to ask her about this the next time I see her.

 

[DataBreach]

I think a lot of artists try to throw some symbolism in to get people talking.


Imo if you look at the mid 90s when it came out, there were a lot of fad cultures out there that empty young people were latching onto to try to build a sense of self.

I think this was the beginning of post 80s burnout on materialistic culture, right when it was beginning another huge surge into the empty existential nightmare we live in today.


So you had sad, lost people trying to reinvent themselves as poets, artists, philosophers, anything different or more meaningful than pop culture. So you had people rebuilding their life into a mystery, trying to find something special they could belong to.

I agree with most of what you've said but if you read the lyrics it paints a picture of a specific man and his identity intertwined with God and faith that should be but never can be. It's incredibly cryptic.

"Secret God...you feed off our fears."

Be honest...that has nothing to do with your explanation. I understand the bible very, very well. This chick is singing a lullaby to the future antichrist that is most likely younger than her and is having a crises of identity and perhaps trying to find his place in this world. If you know anything about Hitler (who was a type of antichrist), he had a hell of a time as a young adult.

 

[DataBreach]

I'm from the same city as her so I'll be sure to ask her about this the next time I see her.

Tell her I'm a fan too lol.