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.
One, two, three, four
Tell me that you love me more
Sleepless long nights
That is what my youth was for
Old teenage hopes are alive at your door
Left you with nothing, but they want some more
Oh, uh, oh, you're changing your heart
Oh, uh, oh, you know who you are
Sweetheart, bitter heart, now I can't tell you apart
Cozy and cold, put the horse before the cart
Those teenage hopes who have tears in their eyes
Too scared to own up to one little lie
Oh, uh, oh, you're changing your heart
Oh, uh, oh, you know who you are
One, two, three, four, five, six, nine, or ten
Money can't buy you back the love that you had then
One, two, three, four, five, six, nine, or ten
Money can't buy you back the love that you had then
Oh, uh, oh, you're changing your heart
Oh, uh, oh, you know who you are
Oh, uh, oh, you're changing your heart
Oh, uh, oh, you know who you are
Who you are-are-are-are, ooh-ooh
Oh, for the teenage boys
They're breaking your heart
For the teenage boys
They're breaking your heart
Tell me that you love me more
Sleepless long nights
That is what my youth was for
Old teenage hopes are alive at your door
Left you with nothing, but they want some more
Oh, uh, oh, you're changing your heart
Oh, uh, oh, you know who you are
Sweetheart, bitter heart, now I can't tell you apart
Cozy and cold, put the horse before the cart
Those teenage hopes who have tears in their eyes
Too scared to own up to one little lie
Oh, uh, oh, you're changing your heart
Oh, uh, oh, you know who you are
One, two, three, four, five, six, nine, or ten
Money can't buy you back the love that you had then
One, two, three, four, five, six, nine, or ten
Money can't buy you back the love that you had then
Oh, uh, oh, you're changing your heart
Oh, uh, oh, you know who you are
Oh, uh, oh, you're changing your heart
Oh, uh, oh, you know who you are
Who you are-are-are-are, ooh-ooh
Oh, for the teenage boys
They're breaking your heart
For the teenage boys
They're breaking your heart
Lyrics submitted by lighthouse12
1234 Lyrics as written by Peter Hoffman Leslie Feist
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I've listened to this song a lot, really like the tempo. I think it goes a few places before it lands.
Starting with the 'lie' we tell ourselves, when young, that we know what we are doing. We don't understand the forces at play, we don't know there will be long term consequences, we just think we will always make the right move. That one little lie is that "we always know what is best for us'.
Then it travels to what if...what if we made a mistake? With all of our mistakes, and wrong roads taken, is it possible that our hopes and dreams are still knocking at our door?
This revelation leaves some, when they reminisce, with a sad and bitter taste in their mouth while for others the memories still taste sweet.
Many end up with money but it can't buy them that person, or life passion, that they passed up to get here. Financially successful, personally bankrupt.
Ends up encouragingly though - to not lose hope. You can begin to slowly change your heart... maybe your life now is really better maybe you dodged a big bullet or maybe you can go back, maybe you can try again...is it ever really too late, will you ever know what is right?
I love the hope in this song, it is motivating.