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.
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Girl, you treat me bad and I know why
I've seen you runnin' around with another guy
And you think if you hurt me, that I'll go away
But, I've made up my mind
You know I'm, I'm here to stay
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Do you see these tears in my eyes?
I'm no use in me lyin', 'cause I really cried
You think you are gonna take me
And put me on the shelf
I'd rather die
Than see you with somebody else
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
My friends all say that I'm your fool
And you're using me like a carpenter uses a tool
I know their intentions they're are all very good
Some of them would help me
If they could
But I never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Girl, you treat me bad and I know why
I've seen you runnin' around with another guy
And you think if you hurt me, that I'll go away
But, I've made up my mind
You know I'm, I'm here to stay
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Do you see these tears in my eyes?
I'm no use in me lyin', 'cause I really cried
You think you are gonna take me
And put me on the shelf
I'd rather die
Than see you with somebody else
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
My friends all say that I'm your fool
And you're using me like a carpenter uses a tool
I know their intentions they're are all very good
Some of them would help me
If they could
But I never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Lyrics submitted by life_aint_chess, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Never Gonna Give You Up Lyrics as written by Kenneth Gamble Jerry Butler
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
The Spy
Doors, The
Doors, The
Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
Step
Ministry
Ministry
Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Techno Ted
Audioslave
Audioslave
Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Oh, what love can do to you...