New Zion[1]
Lyrics
There were signs up in the sky
When we gathered by the garden wall
Everybody on his best behavior
Listening for the altar call
High priest of Salem in his robes[2]
Ranting at the coming of the day
Ravens at the gates
Frightening all the visitors away
I laid down by the water
Dreamed a dream of where I come from
Old things made new[3]
Waiting for you
There were wooden wind chimes rustling
In the trees above the anthills on the dunes
On the high winds we could hear them
Old familiar tunes
The little bit of faith we had once
Like the memory of a movie
They got burned up in the great fire
Reassembling itself slowly but surely
I laid down by the water
Dreamed a dream of where I come from
Old things made new
Waiting for you
Live performances
Footnotes
1. "How come we never hear about religious cults anymore? The high hollering days of cultmania that made my childhood such a thrill: what was the real risk that I'd talk to some robed fellow on the street one day and find myself instantly, involuntarily converted to some bizarre creed? Really, the cults were secondonly to Santa Claus in their mysterious powers. 'New Zion' is only about an imaginary cult but I hope someone starts it up real soon[.]" — Heretic Pride press kit
Zion is frequently a synonym for Jerusalem, used in the context of Jerusalem as a holy city. Given this, New Zion might refer to New Jerusalem, a city prophesied in Ezekiel and Revelations to be created after the Second Coming of Christ. (Annotated TMG)↩
The High Priest of Salem is Melchizedek, considered in some narratives to be the Old Testament form of Jesus. (Annotated TMG) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18, KJV)↩
A reference to 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (Annotated TMG, KJV)↩