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 don't know east Texas from Louisiana.
And I don't know Alabama or where Atlanta lies tonight.
And Indianapolis.
Summers in park and recreation pools,
And carsick vacations in size eleven in "I'm going to heaven" shoes.
I don't know god;
I don't know anyone or if anything will be all right.
Like I don't know Billy Ocean from the ocean floor.
I don't own any albums, I don't know anything.
I don't go to college anymore.
I've got my hands on the one hand,
But I don't know where to put them.
But on the other hand,
I don't know if I'll talk my way out of this one tonight.
And I don't know Alabama or where Atlanta lies tonight.
And Indianapolis.
Summers in park and recreation pools,
And carsick vacations in size eleven in "I'm going to heaven" shoes.
I don't know god;
I don't know anyone or if anything will be all right.
Like I don't know Billy Ocean from the ocean floor.
I don't own any albums, I don't know anything.
I don't go to college anymore.
I've got my hands on the one hand,
But I don't know where to put them.
But on the other hand,
I don't know if I'll talk my way out of this one tonight.
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!
i personally don.t think its all that literal. he says "summers in park & recreation pools" like, the department of parks & recreation, not park as in a car. i think the "going to heaven" shoes refer to good shoes, like ones you'd wear to church.
i think its basically about just being lost, confused, alone. he doesn.t know where to put his hands, and i think the reference is vaguely referring to a clock. he doesn.t know what to make of life; he doesn.t know where he.s going.