Ever since I first heard NIN’s “Came Back Haunted” I noticed a weird resonance it shared with Paul’s vision story in 2 Corinthians 12.
In 2 Corinthians 1-10, Paul categorizes his vision as a story whose content cannot be revealed. Yet, the vision led to a transformative experience for him. He came back from it a man who was haunted by suffering inflicted by Satan.
2Co 12:1-10 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. (2) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. (3) And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— (4) and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. (5) On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— (6) though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. (7) So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. (9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
In the NIN song below, the narrator has gone to “the other side,” he “came back haunted,” he’s not who he “used to be,” and he faces consequences.
The parallels are really striking. Every time I hear the song, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 comes to mind. I have every reason to think that this intertextuality is purely accidental, but it is still very cool.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the song. Note: NIN isn’t a Christian band.
Lyrics:
The throat is deep and the mouth is wide
Saw some things on the other side
Made me promise to never tell
But you know me, I can’t help myself
Now I’ve got something you have to see
They put something inside of me
The smile is red and its eyes are black
I don’t think I’ll be coming back
I don’t believe it
I had to see it
I came back haunted
I came back haunted
I said goodbye but I —
I had to try
I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
Everywhere now reminding me
I am not who I used to be
I’m afraid this has just begun
Consequences for what I’ve done, yeah
I don’t believe it
I had to see it
I came back — I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
I said goodbye but I —
I had to try
I came back — I came back haunted
I C-C-C-came back haunted
I don’t believe it
I had to see it
I came back — I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
I said goodbye but I —
I had to try
I came back — I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
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