So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
He's not appreciated.
He's not appreciated.
He's not appreciated.
Drink the long draught, Dan,
for the Hip Priest.
I said drink the long draught, Dan,
for the Hip Priest!
He's not appreciated
He's not appreciated
White collar hits motorway services
It's the Hip Priest
From the eyes he can see, they know
It's the Hip Priest
He's not appreciated.
It's purple psychology.
Not just an old lady's.
That's hip hip hip hip hit hit hit Hip Priest
That's hip hip hip hip hit hit hit Hip Priest
And he's gonna make an appearance.
He's gonna make an appearance.
Was shown in a freakshow early on.
And drunk from small brown bottles since I was so long.
'Cause I'm a Hip Priest
'Cause I'm a Hip Priest
People only need me when they're down and gone to seed.
'Cause I'm a Hip Priest.
'Cause I'm a Hip Priest.
It's appreciation half won.
And they hate their allegiance to hip preacher one.
Hip Priest
I got my last clean dirty shirt outta the wardrobe
I got my last clean dirty shirt outta the wardrobe
And all the good people know
That's hip hip hip hip hit hit hit Hip Priest
All the young groups know
All the young groups know
They can't ever take advantage because I'm a Hip Priest.
I was as clean as a packet of chocolate chips.
That's hip hip hip hip hit hit hit Hip Priest
And if the good people knew they would say
He's not appreciated
He's not appreciated
So drink the long draught, Dan,
For the Hip Priest
He's not appreciated.
He's not appreciated.
Drink the long draught, Dan,
for the Hip Priest.
I said drink the long draught, Dan,
for the Hip Priest!
He's not appreciated
He's not appreciated
White collar hits motorway services
It's the Hip Priest
From the eyes he can see, they know
It's the Hip Priest
He's not appreciated.
It's purple psychology.
Not just an old lady's.
That's hip hip hip hip hit hit hit Hip Priest
That's hip hip hip hip hit hit hit Hip Priest
And he's gonna make an appearance.
He's gonna make an appearance.
Was shown in a freakshow early on.
And drunk from small brown bottles since I was so long.
'Cause I'm a Hip Priest
'Cause I'm a Hip Priest
People only need me when they're down and gone to seed.
'Cause I'm a Hip Priest.
'Cause I'm a Hip Priest.
It's appreciation half won.
And they hate their allegiance to hip preacher one.
Hip Priest
I got my last clean dirty shirt outta the wardrobe
I got my last clean dirty shirt outta the wardrobe
And all the good people know
That's hip hip hip hip hit hit hit Hip Priest
All the young groups know
All the young groups know
They can't ever take advantage because I'm a Hip Priest.
I was as clean as a packet of chocolate chips.
That's hip hip hip hip hit hit hit Hip Priest
And if the good people knew they would say
He's not appreciated
He's not appreciated
So drink the long draught, Dan,
For the Hip Priest
Lyrics submitted by birthcontrolblues
Hip Priest Lyrics as written by Marc Riley Craig Scanlon
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
This track is a diatribe against music journalists, particular the self-proclaimed young hipsters of the NME.
'Hip priest' is, too me, an attack on how self-sanctified and self-important, but ultimately as un-hip as anything else. The priest part certainly a reflection of their holier-than-thou attitudes.
"He is not appreciated", the track's catchphrase, slowly turns from pity of how under-appreciated said journalists are to a declaration that they are not wanted.
"I got my last clean dirty shirt out of the wardrobe" is paraphrased from the Kris Kristoferson song 'Sunday Morning Coming Down'. I read it as a reflection of the faux-bohemian lifestyle these journalists claim to live, whilst in fact it is a derivative act of self-publicity.
Just like to add I think this the crown jewel of The Fall's songs and the rarest thing in music- a completely unique track.
Listen to it and be enlightened!