Samson

Okay. So recently I can't help but be obsessed with a song by Regina Spektor called Samson. However, I have no idea what her exact intentions were in writing it. Here are some of the lyrics....

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first , I loved you first
Beneath the stars came falling on our heads
But there just soft light, there just soft light
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson came to my bed
Told me that my hair was red
He told me i was beautiful and came into my bed
Oh I cut his hair myself one night
A pair of dull scissors and the yellow light
And he told me that I'd done alright
and kissed me till the morning light

So - What does it mean? I don't know. So, I did some research. One view (a view that a small part of me likes) talks about how Samson, in the context of this song, actually allows her to cut his hair. Why? He is choosing to let himself be completely vulnerable. He loves her and wants to tell her his weakness. He is okay with losing his strength in order to be closer to her.

However, let's be honest. This is likely not the meaning of the song, nor is it really a very good one (which is why I only allow a small part of me to like it). And most importantly, it is definitely not "love" as the song calls it. Let's consider the true (and sad) story of Samson. He is a man who breaks three covenants with the Lord that were made at birth. He gives up, in essence, all the Lord has given him and promised. He marries outside the covenant, was "with" a harlot, and had his hair cut. Being a Nazarite, these were strict offenses. Of course, we all know that when his hair is cut, his strength leaves. But, let's discuss how this is so sad. Delilah uses him and betrays him various times. Yet, he still sticks around and tells her where his strength lies. This is not love.

I have no idea what Regina meant by her song. But, I do believe that the world has a twisted view of love. A view that causes so many to give up things of importance for things seemingly important at the time. I am sure many people justify, if not aloud, in their hearts (or their own actions), that Samson gave in to Delilah. How many people do we see today that give up a marriage for an lustful affair because they have found "true love" with someone else? And how often is cheating or a lack of devotion justified in the plot of the chick flicks because two characters "belong" together? "Love" has taken on a new meaning to most of the world - and to be honest, it is quite sad.