Derek Webb – Black Eye Lyrics

Black Eye is a stinging indictment of power-hungry church "leaders" and so-called "evangelists" who financially, emotionally, and sexually abuse their followers in the name of Jesus Christ. Their followers would do anything to be close to the Lord, even accept the label of "bad" and "sinful", even when it's not true. Religious predation in the church takes advantage of the vulnerable and innocent believers, "blind [and] bound by love," who are convinced that the guilt, fear, and shame is their fault because they're "not right with God," according to the predators. The victims believe that their prayers go unanswered because they're "not in a right relationship" with God. They alter their very selves, "misplace their face," so they can try to conform to the impossible standards of their handlers. These are the demeaning, cruel tactics that an abusive husband most frequently uses to control his wife and keep her dependent and submissive. Is this why Christ died?

I'd suggest that the other person's comments do not capture the actual intent of the song. While I'm sure Derek's against all types of abuses in the church (I believe he's written on a couple examples, right?!), I also know that he's all for having a "right relationship with God" in the evangelical sense of the word, and he's also a firm believer in the doctrine of total depravity. Of course, even sound doctrine can be perverted, and I don't think Derek would deny that. Just don't think that's what the metaphor is referring to here...I believe that this song, like several others of his, is a criticism of the type of political allegiance that is all too common in "American Christianity," and undermines the call of the Kingdom of God. I think the greatest signal toward this reading of the lyrics is in the words, "It's written in my constitution." This is a very clever allusion to the fact that Christians are to have the law of God written upon their hearts by the Holy Spirit, and I think "black eye" is supposed to be showing us the ways in which the institutions of this world try to get us to go wherever they lead, and make us "blind bound by love"- even to the point that we justify their selfishness and abuse of power as being for our protection! This is not to disregard Romans 13, or label all forms of patriotism as evil, but there IS a point at which Christians are called to "be ye separate" from the kingdoms of this world and believe Jesus when he said that "if they hated me, they will hate you also." In general, Stockholm Syndrome is a very clever metaphor for the delusion many nationalistic Christians fall into today.Very intelligent song from a deliberate, conscientious Christian artist who is sadly underrated.