For Today – Bitter Roots

For Today is a former American metalcore band that started in 2005 and disbanded in 2016.  In that timeframe, they released six albums and two EP’s:

• Your Moment, Your Life, Your Time (EP, 2006)
• Ekklesia (2006)
• Portraits (2009)
• Breaker (2010)
• Immortal (2012)
• Prevailer (EP, 2013)
• Fight the Silence (2014)
• Wake (2015)

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/For-today-bitter-roots-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

For Today comes clean about their bitterness.  Pain and suffering caused it to grow and take root.  Initially, they hid it from others, but it’s grown to the point where they cannot camouflage it.  They’ve gone so far deep that they lost hope, feeding it more and more.

The song’s end is depressing but honest.  It is a cry to someone, anyone who can remove their bitter roots.  However, without knowing who removes it, it’s difficult to agree that For Today’s skin is shielded from another toxic plant from taking root or that their heart is protected.  After all, Jesus teaches in Matthew 12:43-45 that without the Holy Spirit, there is nothing to protect a man or woman from becoming worse than when their demon was removed.   I appreciate For Today’s honesty and it’s great that they cry out for help, but to say that “my skin is stronger than soil” without the Holy Spirit gives false hope.

This song follows basic format without a repeated Chorus after Bridge or to end the song.

Score: 5/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

I’m going to assume that the One who removes bitter roots is Jesus and subtract two points.  With that in mind, it aligns with Scripture.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-6: In the world of botany, roots anchor a plant in a firm location, sucking up water and breaking down nutrients to help it grow.  For Today communicates a figurative plant, bitter roots, that form from suffering.

Deuteronomy 29:18 and Hebrews 12:15 both describe these roots as idolatry.  Self-medication comes in many forms: drugs, alcohol, sex, work, YouTube, video games, and violence are some common examples.  When we allow these idols to fester and grow, they separate us from God and become increasingly difficult to starve so that it withers and dies.  We feel worse about ourselves as the vicious cycle continues, plunging us into more ruin.  For Today feels hopeless.

[Chorus]

Lines 1-6: In the past, bitterness was easy to mask.  Nobody knows about it.   For Today can no longer deny it.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-7: This is a defeatist’s attitude.  For Today gave up on pulling this toxic weed along with its roots, affecting those around them.

[Bridge]

Lines 1-8: Realizing that they cannot rid themselves of their bitter roots, For Today runs to Jesus to find rest from their weariness, releasing them (Matthew 11:28-30).

[Ending]

Line 1: See commentary on Bridge.

Lines 2 and 3: God is For Today’s defense from toxic reentry (Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 5:11, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:22, Psalm 41:2, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 59:1, Psalm 61:3, Psalm 91:1-16, Psalm 118:8, Psalm 121:7-8, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 30:5, Nahum 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and 1 John 5:18).

Line 4: See commentary on Bridge.

Lines 5 and 6: Repeats lines 2 and 3.

Line 7: See commentary on Bridge.

Score: 8/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Aside from my commentary on the Holy Spirit in section 1, unbelievers should arrive at the same conclusion as I, not realizing that For Today hasn’t given the right solution.  Many will easily identify with For Today’s suffering, seeking to escape.

Score: 4/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It doesn’t glorify anything.  It is a shot in the dark for help.  I’ll give brownie points for For Today’s honesty.

Score: 3/10

Closing Comments

For Today’s Bitter Roots is honest, but gives false hope.  It is an expression of weariness from pain and suffering, calling out to help to anyone who will listen while simultaneously declaring skin fortified.  If we assume God takes away the roots, it’s Biblical; However, there is nothing in the song that inherently warrants such a view.  Unbelievers may find interpretation easy, but it gives a false sense of hope, that merely calling out for help will protect them.

I cannot recommend this for corporate worship.

Final Score: 5.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Bitter Roots (listen to the song)

Artist: For Today

Album: Wake (buy the album)

Genre: Hard Rock

Release Year: 2015

Duration: 3:28

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