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.
I've fought it for a long time now
While drowning in a river of denial
I washed up, fixed up, picked up
All my broken things
'Cause you left me, police tape, chalk line
Tequila shots in the dark scene of the crime
Suburban living with a feeling that I'm giving up
Everything for you
Oh, oh, oh, how was I supposed to know
That you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go (go!)
And something's telling me to leave, but I won't
'Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I don't
It took a lot to take you home
One stupid call and I end up alone
Your made up, dressed up, messed up
Plans I set in stone
But you made me do it
And I don't like dancing in the alley
With a street rat night life
Can't keep living with a feeling that I'm giving up
Everything for you
Oh, oh, oh, how was I supposed to know
That you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go (go!)
And something's telling me to leave, but I won't
'Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I don't
Make a fool of myself when you hang around
When you're gone, I'm a match that's burning out
Could've been, should've done what I said I was going to (said that I would do)
But I never promised you (but I never promised you)
(Promised you, promised you, promised you, promised you)
Oh, oh, oh, how was I supposed to know
That you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go (go!)
It never took a fool to see the things that I won't
'Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I do ya
Oh, oh, oh, how was I supposed to know ('cause you left me police scenes, chalk line)
That you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go (Tequila shots in the dark scene of the crime)
And something's telling me to leave but I won't
'Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I d-d-d
Damned if I do ya, damned if I don't
While drowning in a river of denial
I washed up, fixed up, picked up
All my broken things
'Cause you left me, police tape, chalk line
Tequila shots in the dark scene of the crime
Suburban living with a feeling that I'm giving up
Everything for you
Oh, oh, oh, how was I supposed to know
That you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go (go!)
And something's telling me to leave, but I won't
'Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I don't
It took a lot to take you home
One stupid call and I end up alone
Your made up, dressed up, messed up
Plans I set in stone
But you made me do it
And I don't like dancing in the alley
With a street rat night life
Can't keep living with a feeling that I'm giving up
Everything for you
Oh, oh, oh, how was I supposed to know
That you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go (go!)
And something's telling me to leave, but I won't
'Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I don't
Make a fool of myself when you hang around
When you're gone, I'm a match that's burning out
Could've been, should've done what I said I was going to (said that I would do)
But I never promised you (but I never promised you)
(Promised you, promised you, promised you, promised you)
Oh, oh, oh, how was I supposed to know
That you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go (go!)
It never took a fool to see the things that I won't
'Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I do ya
Oh, oh, oh, how was I supposed to know ('cause you left me police scenes, chalk line)
That you were o-o-over me? I think that I should go (Tequila shots in the dark scene of the crime)
And something's telling me to leave but I won't
'Cause I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I d-d-d
Damned if I do ya, damned if I don't
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't) Lyrics as written by Robert Ryan Dawson Jack Bassam Barakat
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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For all the people whining about their new sound there's a lyric in one of Jay-Z's songs that's goes "if you want my old music buy my old album" or something like that. Anyway I think that rings true for All Time Low too. If u don't like their new stuff then listen to their old stuff. Complaining will get you nowhere :-)