Baba

The speaker describes people gathering around a spiritual teacher and asks how long it will take to become holy or enlightened. At first, the questions sound like a devoted student seeking guidance and forgiveness. As the song continues, however, the speaker’s tone seems increasingly doubtful. The repeated questions suggest impatience and concern about depending too much on the teacher.

Several images point to the gap between spiritual ideals and outward display. Students leave their families, give up drugs, chant, and wear robes or beads, but these actions may become rituals or signs of status rather than evidence of inner change. The phrase “hanging on to every word” suggests listening with intense trust, perhaps without questioning. “Completely absolve me” means to free someone fully from guilt or blame; here, the speaker wonders whether the teacher is being treated as the source of that freedom.

The lyrics do not simply reject spirituality. They question the hope of quick salvation and the idea that holiness can be bought, performed, or granted by a guru. The image of students kissing the teacher’s feet may suggest devotion, but it also raises concerns about power and unquestioned authority. The final appeal for strength could be sincere, ironic, or both: the speaker may still want enlightenment while recognizing that the search itself has become troubling.