The song "The Great Forgiver" by Gallows seems to depict a person's experience after death. The speaker describes walking into the light, presumably representing the afterlife, but being disappointed by what they encounter. In the song, the concept of heaven is portrayed negatively. The speaker expresses that rather than condemning the sinners themselves, heaven condemns the sins committed by these individuals. The lyrics imply that heaven is filled with what the speaker perceives as "scum" – people who live like pigs and will die in that same way. There is a lack of forgiveness, with the speaker stating that there will never be enough forgiveness. The song also portrays the speaker's self-identification as more aligned with the Devil rather than a saintly figure. The lyrics express a sense of being born in hell, suggesting a rebellious or sinful nature. The idea of "Hell" is not only seen as a place of punishment but also as a place of creation or self-definition for the speaker. The lines indicating that "if god is the great forgiver, then all the scum will be delivered" suggest that the speaker holds a different interpretation of forgiveness. The notion of burying the men but not their sins highlights the idea that sins are not truly absolved or washed away. Instead, they continue to persist even after death, carried along with those who have committed them. Overall, the song seems to explore themes of disappointment with the conventional view of heaven and its lack of forgiveness. The speaker presents their identity as more closely aligned with the Devil and acknowledges their connection to hell as a place of self-creation. It can be interpreted as a critique of traditional religious beliefs and ideas surrounding sin and forgiveness.
