Faith What A Face

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a woman named Faith, whose very presence seems to demand a certain kind of understanding, almost like a plea for forgiveness. She's depicted as alluring, drawing in diverse figures from "gypsies and princes," suggesting a magnetic, perhaps even dangerous, charm. The narrator warns against trying to control or manipulate such a force, implying that attempting to "spin the wheel on a lady's love" will inevitably lead to profound separation and heartbreak. The song then shifts to a series of seemingly disparate references: Isaac Moses Haynes and his "phrases," Joe Louis the "brown Bomber," and Sugar-Pie DeSanto the "blues singing super-star." These figures, while varied, all seem to represent powerful, impactful individuals or forces. The juxtaposition suggests that Faith herself possesses a similar potent, almost elemental quality, capable of inspiring great art and action, making lovers "draw closer at heart." The narrator grapples with the nature of Faith, questioning "what kind of faith" she embodies. Her face is described as both "hard in forgetting" and capable of drawing "poetry from a stone," indicating a complex, unforgettable nature. While others may be drawn to her for superficial reasons, the narrator's need is existential: "I need her for surviving." This highlights a deep, personal reliance on Faith that transcends casual admiration. Ultimately, Faith is presented as an irresistible, enduring force that compels the narrator's return. The image of a "candle she's burning" and the desire to "drown in her rivers till the morning" conveys an all-consuming, almost spiritual devotion. The promise of rising "like a sun from her arms" suggests a transformative, life-affirming power, leaving the narrator to ponder the profound, almost divine, nature of this faith.