This one always speaks to me, even though I'm neither Christian nor gay (and neither is Justin Vernon as far as I'm aware)

It's just the injustice of an establishment that gets to me, I suppose.

He comes to church and they accept him with open arms, unconditional love yadda yadda, until he confesses his 'sin' of homosexuality and how men in the streets beat him up and said 'the gays had to pay'.

The church changed its tune, however, they 'show him the door'. 'we're not on your side'.

So he leaves, one could interpret as committing suicide 'that's why I'm leaving this world behind me', in the hopes that he'll be accepted more directly by God.

It's as straightforward as it is sad, and from a musicians point of view, a firm reminder that something so simple can be so deep (and also how a song in a major key can be so sad, despite what teachers insist lol).

Lastly is this powerful track by

Always amusing when a group with a name like 'five finger death punch' can touch on real issues heh