This is a truly beautiful song by a wonderfully talented singer – Lauren Hill. As I was growing up it was always her songs which seemed to say what I couldn’t, but was feeling. This song hasn’t let me down. Years later, older, living in another country and with different beliefs and she still vocalises seemingly as if she could read my thoughts.
I’m not sure exactly where the word “Selah” comes from. It has been attributed to Hebrew, but her words don’t match the meanings, except for maybe the pause in song stressing importance of the passage before. wiki link The same link states that it’s Arabic for prayer, which is also a match with the song words since she says “Saleh. And it means, praise and meditation” although different in pronunciation to Salah.
Anyway listen and enjoy. The song words are below.
No matter how we remain in denial, yeah
Wasting time
Replacing time
With each empty excuse
But that’ll only work a little while
Coping with despair
Knowing you’re not there
Ashamed to just admit
I’ve been a fool
So I blame it on the Sun
Run away from everyone
Hoping to escape this ridicule
Trapped in misery
Wrapped so miserably
In this deception that I’m wearing like a skin
Oh I keep trying to explain
A heart that never loved me to begin
Oh I’m such a mess
I have no choice but to confess
That I’ve been desperately trying to belong
Lying to myself
And everybody else
Refusing to admit my right was wrong
Selah
And it means
Praise and meditation
And then He came
Selah
And it means
Did you think about that?
And then He came
Selah
Oh and it means
Praise and meditation
And then He came
Selah
Oh and it means
That it is seen
How beautiful is fruit still in denial of its roots?
My guilty heart behaved so foolishly
This treason from within
That reasons with my sin
Won’t be happy til it sees the death of me
Selfishly addicted
To a life that I depicted
Conflicted coz it’s not reality
Oh what’s left of me
I beg you desperately
Cause me to agree with what I know is best for me
Please save me from myself
I need You to save me from myself
Please save me from myself so I can heal
The choices that Ive made
Oh have been nothing but mistakes
What a wasted use of space
Should I die before I wake?
In all of my religion
I’ve fortified this prison
Obligated to obey
The demands of bad decisions
Please save me from myself
I need You to save me from myself
Please save me from myself so I can heal
And then He came
Selah
And it means
Praise and meditation
And then He came
Selah
And it means
Did you think about that?
And He came
Selah
Oh and it means
Meditation
And then He came
Selah
Oh and it means
That it is seen
And then He came
Then He came, then He came, then He came
And then He came
Qor2aan also has small breks in reading called seli/celi, written with an “i” that cud in fact be “a” so it would be sela/cela.
Not that I solved the mystery but maybe that wud interest you.
Very interesting! Thank you.
Can you see how it would in anyway be linked to Salah “Prayer”? Pronunciation wise (in the song) I can’t, but since she’s American she might not have the right accent.
I think it is the Hebrew word as you linked to wikipedia. As used in the Qor2aan, I imagine it carries the same meaning, though you need to ask a sheex for that. When we used to study Qor2aan at school they only said it meant a short stop, presumably the equivalent of a comma in English, which might be to take our breath or to emphasize (especially) what’s before it. The important thing to note is that these are all newer signs that were not in the Qor2aan as the first Moslems knew it.
For all I know this is a direct borrowing from Judaism.
That would fall in line with what I understand of the singers beliefs. She has some involvement (direct or indirect) with a religion or movement called Rastafari…. I don’t know as much about it as I should, but some of their followers align themselves to Judaism.
Three of her children are called Zion, Selah and Joshua which are all hebrew names.