The lyrics are the thoughts of a prisoner who will soon
killed by hanging. His initial agony gives way, gradually,
in despair, in resignation, in calm, reconciliation with death and
certainty of an afterlife.
The events that trigger this emotional shift
situations is the entrance of the priest who comes to bless him
protagonist in the cell and later the cry "God is with you" of one
prisoner. The future death not only ignores the priest but seems to
he is disturbed by his presence by turning his gaze out of his cell.
He has rejected the idea of a good and merciful God but not her
of the afterlife. The thought born of the wish of his inmate
brings to mind the words of the crucified Jesus in the New Testament “God
"My God, why did you leave me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).
The future death takes care to give advisory character to
his last words, trying to convey his wisdom
gave the anticipation of impending death. Please listen
realize the meaning of his words, learn from his example
and, thus, to give meaning to the inglorious death of the convict, to “catch her
his soul before it flies away ". According to Dickinson, however,
through fear, hope is finally reborn and that is why this piece closes
with the previously hesitant future death being reversed and
exclaims "sanctify your name."
According to Harris, the lyrics examine whether the belief that follows
man endures his whole life when the hour of death approaches,
if she supports him when he needs her more than ever.