In the Dark

By Flyleaf

On Memento Mori

Released on October 10, 2009

6K Views

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[Intro]

I've written songs in the dark

I've felt inspired in the dark

I hide myself in the dark

Used to be afraid of the dark

Those in the light know we die in the dark


[Verse 1]

There's only artificial light here

My flaws hide well here

I used to be afraid of cluttered noises

Now I'm afraid of silence


[Chorus]

Fill this space with idle words

I'm scared to death of light and silence

Jesus, kill me inside this

Raise me up to live again

Like you did

Like you did


[Verse 2]

Now I am mute despite myself

All of them are gone

The silence overtakes me

The idle words forsake me and I am left to face me

I'm held accountable

For every idle word

Curse the idle words


[Chorus]

I'm scared to death of light and silence

Jesus, kill me inside this

Raise me up to live again

Like you did

Like you did


[Bridge]

Glory shows up

Exposes us

I'm naked here

Forsaken here

By the dark

By the dark

Damn the dark!


[Chorus]

I'm scared to death of light and silence

Jesus, kill me inside this

Raise me up to live again

Like you did

Like you did

“I’m held accountable”
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Here’s a reference to one thing that leave the lyricist “scared to death of light.” John 3:19: “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world…”

“For every idle word”
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The Great Rabbi Jesus mentions “idle word[s]” in Matthew 12:36: “you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak” (NLT)

“Those in the light know we die in the dark”
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This line carries echos of 1 John 1:5-7, Hebrews 9:22, and Romans 3:23 which describe how those “in the light” find God there because He is “in the light.” Also, because “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John). But, we “die in the dark” because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans) and “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews). Thus, “those in the light know we die in the dark!”

“My flaws hide well here”
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“My flaws [the sin of humanity] hide well here” continues this lyricists' pattern of invoking biblical themes. Ephesians 5:11 mentions “unfruitful works of darkness,” which are the “things that they [those walking in darkness] do in secret” (v.12). Similarly, John 3:19 explains that “people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” The lyricist recognizes her own attraction to the dark for this reason.

“The idle words forsake me and I am left to face me”
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This moment without diversion compels introspection and perhaps despair. The cadence and tone shift at this point to prepare for a realization in the next lines.

“Jesus, kill me inside this Raise me up to live again”
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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Death and rebirth are themes of the Bible, generally considered to be essential to salvation. When Lacey is asking for Jesus to kill her and make her alive again, she is asking to become new, and to leave her old ways behind.

“I’m scared to death of light”
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Why is the lyricist lyricist “scared to death of light and silence? They are symbols of judgement (John 3:19: "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world…”) and relative powerlessness (Habakkuk 2:20: “The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”).