The meaning of the lyrics of the song "First Stone" by the artist "Tiger Lillies, The"

The lyrics of the song "First Stone" by The Tiger Lillies present a dark and sarcastic interpretation of the biblical story of the woman caught in adultery. Instead of forgiveness and compassion, as promised in the Gospel, the song paints a picture of cruelty, hypocrisy, and heartlessness.

The first verse immediately sets the tone for the entire piece. The phrase "John lied about it all, it can't be true" suggests that the Gospel account of Christ's mercy is a lie. This is followed by a rhetorical question about forgiving the sins of "that whore," which emphasizes society's contemptuous attitude towards the woman and questions the very possibility of forgiveness.

The culmination of the first verse is the shocking statement: "And Christ himself threw the first stone." This image turns the traditional view of Christ as the savior and protector of sinners on its head. Instead, he appears as a ruthless judge, actively participating in the execution. The adulteress's death, described as instantaneous, emphasizes the cruelty and irreversibility of the act of violence.

The chorus, repeated throughout the song, enhances the atmosphere of despair. The phrases "The first stone, stone flies at you" and "Nobody says their prayers" create a sense of inevitable punishment and the spiritual emptiness of society.

In the second verse, new details are added to the image of the crowd stoning the woman. The lyrical hero, addressing the victim, accuses her of promiscuity, curses her future offspring ("And your boy will be everybody's 'son of a bitch'"), and predicts her miserable death. These curses emphasize the hypocrisy of a society that is itself mired in sin but ready to cruelly judge others.

The third verse develops the theme of hypocrisy and general indifference. The images of a multitude of men ("Plenty of guys, plenty of men") and promiscuous sexual relations ("She gave it to everyone, gave it to them") suggest that adultery is not an exception but the norm. However, instead of sympathy and understanding, the woman faces an avalanche of stones and deathly silence: "There's no, no, no, no, no, no prayers to be heard."

The repetition of the chorus and its variations at the end of the song emphasize the hopelessness of the situation. The woman is left alone with her fate, surrounded by indifference and cruelty. The final "Says their prayers," cut short, leaves the listener in oppressive silence, forcing them to reflect on the nature of sin, punishment, and forgiveness.