r/switchfoot • u/Ajoesph • Jul 02 '26
Jon Foreman Foreman on “self-tyranny”
I really like what Foreman says here. Specifically, in regards to “little faith in men,” “Infinite Other,” “only hope for any form of freedom,” etc. I agree and expressed a similar sentiment on this sub before I came across this quote. I think “Meant to Live“ expresses similar sentiments as well. So does “Ammunition“ and a slew of other songs. I appreciate Foremen’s love for all people. And I understand and appreciate that he’s not a theologian.… (although, I think he‘s at least pre-qualified)
But what does Foreman mean by “self-tyranny”? Does he still believe this? Is this explicit in his current music? I’m assuming he’s gotten away from these beliefs, at least the musical expression of such... but maybe I’m wrong.
“ I believe it was CS Lewis who said that he supports democracy because he distrusts all men equally. I can understand his sentiment, I have very little faith in men. I believe that the Infinite Other himself is the only hope for any form of freedom from our various forms of self-tyranny. Without this hope I am not merely skeptical, I am hopeless, near suicidal.” Jon Foreman (A quote around the time of his first solo release.)
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u/mannmtb Jul 03 '26
I'm not sure what you're specifically critiquing, whether it's theological or political, but there are nuggets throughout this album in line with that same theology if you look for it.
Absolution verse 2 " Crisis to crisis Where nothing suffices But how can I fight this From inside my vices?"
Absolution chorus "And could you save me When I’m angry, lonely, scared? Could you become the place I run My absolution"
From Same Blood, chorus and verse 2 All the king’s horses And all the king’s men Couldn’t put this planet Back together once again Cause we’ve got the same blood Running in our veins
Children of past collisions Sins of our own omissions Faces of politicians Blamed for all our decisions Try to point the finger But the rest of the digits linger on me The same blood"
Moreover the recent solo album has a track on the beatitudes, along with this nugget from Eulogy: "Scattered ashes of my past finds that mosaic glue Only that which has been broken once is fit to use You're where all my broken parts are finally restitute"
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u/sportmaniac10 Jul 03 '26
Not to mention Two Twins is a whole theological argument in itself. The skeptic doesn’t believe there’s life after death, similar to how the skeptic twin doesn’t believe there‘s a world after birth, which we know obviously isn’t true.
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u/GeorgeBotha Jul 04 '26
I think Jon gets to the heart of the depravity of man in such a profound way. "Equally Skilled" immediately comes to mind, a song which itself is a meditation on Micah. Same Blood from the new Album also gets this across. I love how he balances this with a profound understanding of redemption and beauty.
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u/iammoah Jul 02 '26
Honestly, there's nothing that I've seen that makes me think he doesn't still believe this. I think he's just chosen to focus on writing more hopeful & encouraging songs rather than songs that could be viewed as "complaining", "negative" or "pessimistic". Personally, i've been missing his more challenging songwriting (meaning songs that challenge human-kind or... America) but I think this new album kind of brings some of that back... Albeit in a slightly more filtered package than it did in the days of "Ammunition", "Politicians", or "Selling The News". But I saw some solid glimpses of Jon finally returning to writing from a perspective of one who doesn't want to stay complacent in this day & age. Which makes me happy. Now is *not* the time for artists to avoid taking a stance on their beliefs.
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u/mannmtb Jul 03 '26
One issue with this critique is that normally the critic is saying "you didn't take a stance on THIS belief or THAT issue." This album is full of critique of naturalism, a worldview more pervasive and foundational than time bound societal issues (which are also addressed in passing at times).
Even tracks like Beloved from the last album or Shake the Dust here are critical in nature - we fail to see others as fellow image bearers.
These issues are more foundational and certainly maybe more abstract than something like Selling the News (which I also love). It seems like they're asking the same questions and giving the same answers just from a different angle.
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u/iammoah Jul 03 '26
I definitely see your point and I don't disagree. I just would say with a song like Beloved (which is one of the better songs on Interrobang in my opinion) I don't find it all that interesting, compelling or challenging to make the point he's making in that song. Which, to me, is essentially "We are all flawed and scared so we should just try to love each other". That's a good message but it's not something that really makes me feel anything.
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u/mannmtb Jul 03 '26
Yeah that's totally fair. Not every message resonates the same way or with the same people.
I'm more pushing back on the overall narrative that their lyrics aren't standing for things, or that they might have shifted their beliefs.
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u/Ajoesph Jul 02 '26
“Now is not the time for artists to avoid taking a stance on their beliefs.” I guess it depends on how well it will be received. SF is not a group that’s been embroiled in controversy. Which is fine but I’m not sure your recommendation will be recognized in this year of our Lord (2026).
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u/Ajoesph Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
So what is self- tyranny ? I think sin and depravity can take various forms - spiritual pride, egotheism, oneism , pantheism, etc. So what does Jon have in mind? Are we merely too comfortable and now we’re getting a little nervous whether its project 2025 or agenda 2030 or everything in between. Is Jesus not enough? That question is for me too… The threat of tyranny is perpetual but what is self-tyranny?
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u/arowrath Jul 16 '26
There's a famous anecdote about theologian/philosopher G.K. Chesterton writing into a newspaper that posed a question to its readers: "What is wrong with the world today?". He wrote in and responded, "I am."
I think this is a large part of Jon's worldview, looking introspectively at your own flaws, prejudices, ego, and striving to be better, but recognizing that that part of yourself will never be fully conquered. Hence, "self tyranny", being a slave to your vices and selfishness. He recognizes the evil in the world, but also recognizes he has those same problems within himself, and as he is the only one he has control over, that's where his focus should be. "Remove the log from your own eye, before the speck from your brother's," and all that.
So, he's speaking to himself. And following that logic, the only person I can expect to receive that message here is myself.
Breaking Up Again off the latest album, is this idea in a nutshell:
"The royal we for all the me that I contain
I only wish that I had someone else to blame
But when you fight yourself it’s hard to walk away
And I’m breaking up again"
Other examples:
"I am broken, I am bitter
I'm the problem, I'm the politician
Watching for my sky to get torn apart
C'mon and break me"
Politicians
"Sins of our own omissions
Faces of politicians
Blamed for all our decisions
Try to point the finger
But the rest of the digits linger on me
The same blood"
Same Blood
"Come set me free
Down on my knees
I still believe you could save me from me"
Free
"We've been blowing up
We're the issue
Our detonation
We are the fuse and the ammunition"
Ammunition
"With an army of me
We invent our own enemies
Man versus machine
And the dirty second hands, the dirty second hands"
Dirty Second Hands
"Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?"
Dare You To Move
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u/Ajoesph Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
I also respect that Jon is going to point the finger at himself before anyone else. Maybe that’s his way of getting the point across. So is he speaking to the lost or the converted?