Hey fellow Lauryn Lovers, I just finished watching my Unplugged video again and I was thinking about how she said she just wants to relate the songs to her fans in any way possible. So I wanted to get different point of views from you all on what you believe the meaning of a certain song of hers is and how would you explain it if you were teaching it to a class. I wanted to start with Damnable Heresies, which was one of the most confusing ones to me at first but then more I listened the more I understood, which is what you have to do with Lauryn's songs (listen to it over). But what I've come to an understanding of this song is that when she says Heresies, she's talking about the things she wants to say, the Truth she wants to sing about which a lot of people do not want to hear. In the old days, speaking against a main religion, one dictating power, you were considered a heretic. And I believe this song takes us on a journey of her transformation, how when she held in what she wanted to truly express, it crushed her and damaged her. "These Damnnable Heresies, sold into slavery" Meaning these things she wanted to share were held down by her own will because she was afraid of how people might think of her afterwards. "By my insecurities, oh they keep shaking me down, breaking me down, taking me down" Meaning since she can't express how she wants, she's suffering and is an emotional prisoner. The bridge that says, "the devil really had a hold on me, but he HAD to let me go. I get out, oh I get out" is saying she can't hold back what she's been longing to say anymore, she's bursting out no matter what the world thinks. And "Use me, Use me up." I feel like she's talking to God, asking him to just use her and take her where he wants her to go. Listen to it closely again and see if the pieces fit together more easily. But that's all my view of it. What do you all think? I know, it's all so deep but I thought this would be interesting. Maybe we can talk about a song each day, or each week and try to evaluate it so newer lauryn fans can come to a clearer understanding.

i think lauryn fans period to come to a clearer understanding.

Her songs since the Unplugged album are deep and spiritual.

What do I think Damnable Heresies is about?

Aren't the damnable heresies the belief system that at one time she believed/served but now realises was false, wrong, evil, and demonic. I think this song relates to Social drugs in that is is talking about the system that wants to conform us, repress us, destroy us, and ultimatly kill us (our soul). I think she is talking about the devil using her not GOD, I think in terms of using as abusing her/ the devil exploting her.

I don't know, just a guess.

What does she means by the weak capturing the strong? Isn't that a paradox? How can the weak capture the strong?

I really like your interpretation. On the "use me, use me up" The reason why I believe she's speaking of God is because she's saying this in a present tense. If she was speaking of Satan, I'd imagine her to say "used me, used me up." But how she says it seems like she asking for someone to do that, that she's submitting her all into God. Now about the weak/strong line. Her songs could go in so many ways, but this is my take on it...The weak is (the government/system) who only THINKS they're strong but are really weak and she's saying how they capture US who have the ability to be strong but allow ourselves and our minds to be captured by this power. I believe she is saying we underestimate the power God has given us to speak out. "Using the weak, to capture the strong." I just wish Lauryn would make a tape and like actually explain all of her songs in detail and what inspired them and how they came about, u know?

Basically, I believe it's a very creative metaphor

She sang Damnable Heresies at the Vatican, and I don't think it was a mistake. To me, she's talking about all these religious doctrines that keep confusing us about what's right or wrong.

You know One (HIgher Soul) was the first song that I heard that was actually a love song towards a male figure instead of about her unending love towards God. Don't get me wrong, I love when she speaks about the system and the government, but it would be nice to hear some new acoustic heartbreak/love songs again like Ex-Factor. I'm sure she has written some but I don't think she likes to release them. I guess I'm just missing some of the old Lauryn. Wishful thinking huh?

she does say: "used me up" in the versions I have. She also says it after mentioning the devil.

which version do you have?

I have Chicago 2004 concert and JazzOpen 2005.

The version she did in Berlin i think

The devil really had a hold on me,
But he had to let me go,
Say I get out, out, out, out,
The devil really had a hold on me,
But he had to let me go,
Say I get out, I get out, Oh I get out, yea
Use me, Use me, Use me Use me up,
Use me,
Use me,
Use me,

Those are the lyrics posted from this site.

remember those aren't official, each to his own I guess.

in berlin? when did she appear in berlin?

PEACE
the invisible man :ph43r:

he probably meant Stuttgart.

Stockholm, my bad