Much of the songwriting for 'Sin' can be broken up into three parts. A few songs were written shortly after Mindsize was recorded, during various tours, etc.. A large majority of the songs were written in the two weeks preceding our recording dates - in our church youth room. The final few songs were written in the studio, "on-the-fly" or something like that. This song is one of the few that I have distinct memories of us writing in the two weeks before recording started. It came like a shot. The guys came up with the music - moody and powerful, and I slipped out of the room to write some lyrics. Like many of our songs, I don't remember *actually* writing the lyrics, but I know that these words came quickly - very quickly. Maybe that's part of the reason that I've always liked this song so much.
I think that the words of this song flow as good as any that we have. I don't think there was much mystery as to the message here - at least I hope not. What does it boil down to? Simple. No matter what material possessions we have, excessive smarts that we claim, or good acts that we have made - it means nothing without Christ. The chorus is interesting in that it can almost represent how someone might take stock of their own life and their own actions - a dime for my good actions, a nickel for the good things that I could do, and a quarter for my good intentions! In the end, we're left poor despite all of these things if we do not have the Savior.
in my money, i was at home
to the beggar, i was so cold
in my pockets, all that i could hold
as i left here, this was all i was told...
well, i get a dime for all of my good
a nickel for all that i could
and a quarter for all i said i would
and i was left poor, poor, poor
oh my, how poor
as a thinker, i was so loud
in my wisdom, i was profound
as i left here, this was the sound...
well, i get a dime for all of my good
a nickel for all that i could
and a quarter for all i said i would
and i was left poor, poor, poor
oh my, how poor
oh my Lord
by my own way, i felt very near
when it shook me, this was all
i could hear...