vindicated v. -to clear of accusation or blame by offering supporting arguments of proof

For more than a week now the website's "now playing" has been Dashboard Confessional's "Vindicated." Great song. (I know you think so too - I've seen you mouthing the words.) Such passionate conviction, but did you ever bother to figure out just what "vindicate" means? It's okay. Dictionary definitions really don't help much - they tend to confuse rather than clarify the issue. But how about through context? As you sing along, are you able to decipher the meaning? Do you even care? I hope so. The song's a really powerful "confessional," one that should inspire you to "figure things out."

So often in life, in the learning process, we forget to step back and try to understand the people around us; what makes us tick or what's especially good about that person you don't really like, or what's particularly bad about those people you do. Songs and poetry have a unique ability to make us wake up and smell the cat food. Don't be afraid to include your insight into music or poetry or the world in your journals, or to share the meaning of a favorite song or poem with the class. I'm usually pretty willing to drop what I'm doing to discuss in class something that you find meaningful. Here's the lyrics, therefore, to this song that should now take on even more meaning:

Hope dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption
Winding in and winding out
The shine of it has caught my eye

And roped me in
So mesmerizing, so hypnotizing
I am captivated, I am

{Chorus}
Vindicated
I am selfish
I am wrong
I am right
I swear I'm right
Swear I knew it all along
And I am flawed, but I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself

So clear
Like the diamond in your ring
Cut to mirror your intention
Oversized and overwhelmed
The shine of which has caught my eye
And rendered me
So isolated,and so motivated
I am certain now that I am

{Chorus}

So turn
Up the corners of your lips
Part them and feel my finger tips
Trace the moment, fall forever

Defense is paper thin
Just one touch and I'll be in
Too deep now to ever swim against the current
So let me slip away
So let me slip away
So let me slip away
So let me slip against the current
So let me slip away
So let me slip away
So let me slip away
So let me slip away

{Chorus}
My hope
dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption...