Candi Carpenter
Everybody Goes to Hell
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Carpenter delivers another experience of growing up in a religious family that cuts deep. Only this time, there’s an unlikely twist (and an honest shout).
Candi Carpenter is no stranger to songs covering religion and their religious experience. Experience that is nothing short of terrifying to anyone who’s just received their liberal starter pack. A few team members may have said that the honesty always crushes their souls and removes another bit of humanity from whatever remains. You must have read our review of Demonology Part I after all.
It’s good that ‘Everybody Goes to Hell’ is different from Carpenter’s which deals with family and religious issues on a few layers.
Apologies, confessions, reconciliations, freedom… and what ‘Everybody Goes to Hell’ is about
In terms of music, it’s a simple one – there’s just the piano with a short section of the violin at the very beginning, during the two intro lines.
Going to hell doesn’t sound any different from being raised by a religious family. Not even Jesus can save you. Sometimes though, there’s hope.
There are three main stanzas, one addressed to Candi’s mom, the second to their dad, and the third to everyone else.
In the parents ones, the lyrics share traumas caused by the parents, the mother telling her child she loves Jesus more than anyone, “Remember when you said you love God more than you love me / No wonder I have these abandonment issues”, the father being disappointed with Carpenter’s sexuality, “And I know you′ll be embarrassed when you see the truth about / My life and sexuality on Instagram”.
The parents’ disappointments in their offspring and religious beliefs are quite sarcastically addressed with the child’s disappointment, “But you believe you′re possessed by a man / Who offers you cosmic protection”. Carl Sagan 1, Jesus 0.
Despite all the trauma, the song is a celebration of making peace with what was and still may be; all that is covered by an empowering rhyme “I didn’t lose my faith, I threw it away, I threw it away”, documenting the sound confidence in one’s decisions.
The chorus neatly closes every “parent story” by showing a mind at peace. A mind that knows that everyone goes to hell no matter how much good you’ve done because you just don’t have the right religion. Unless you’re an atheist or a parent, those two categories of people end up in both.
What makes the song truly deep is the very last stanza – it’s an apology to everyone else.
The last two verses show there’s hope even for cases that may seem to be lost. The stanza closes with apologising to many but closes with “And um, to my Mom and Dad / I love you”.
The song is a very powerful catharsis, or, forgiveness?
Candi Carpenter’s ‘Everybody Goes to Hell’ music video
Candi Carpenter – Everybody Goes to Hell
Candi Carpenter’s ‘Everybody Goes to Hell’ lyrics
Candi Beth, watcha′ doin’?
Candi Beth, what are you doin′?I’m sorry Mom, I’m a pagan, sold my soul to Carl Sagan
And I know that′s your worst nightmare coming true
Remember when you said you love God more than you love me
No wonder I have these abandonment issuesI might be a witch because I like burning candles
And I have a crystal collection
But you believe you′re possessed by a man
Who offers you cosmic protectionDon’t pray for me, I don′t need to be forgiven
Everybody goes to hell in somebody else’s religion
We all want to have the answers, and we all want to go to heaven
But everybody goes to hell in somebody else′s religion
ReligionI’m sorry Dad I′m a heathen, I’m happy with my demons
I discovered they’re a part of who I am
And I know you′ll be embarrassed when you see the truth about
My life and sexuality on InstagramBut your version of God sounds like my abusive ex
The one I was too scared to leave
Do I really deserve to be tortured forever
Because I no longer believeDon′t pray for me, I don’t need to be forgiven
Everybody goes to hell in somebody else′s religion
We all want to have the answers, and we all want to go to heaven
But everybody goes to hell in somebody else’s religion
ReligionSo ring the bells, light the effigy
Burn the witch if that′s what you think of me
I didn’t lose my faith, I threw it away
Ring the bells, light the effigy
Burn the witch if that′s what you think of me
I didn’t lose my faith, I threw it away, I threw it awayDon′t pray for me, I don’t need to be forgiven
Everybody goes to hell in somebody else′s religion
We all want to have the answers, and we all want to go to heaven
But everybody goes to hell in somebody else’s religion
ReligionI just want to take a moment to apologize
To anyone I might have hurt
And to anyone I tried to convert
Either successfully, or unsuccessfully
Uh, to my best friend Justine
I′m really sorry about that time I called you
In the middle of the night
And I begged you to accept Jesus as your
Savior so you wouldn’t go to hell
That was really shitty
And um, to my Mom and Dad
I love you
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