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 know a man
Who doesn't have many friends
I know a place he lives
Where trouble never ends
I know its hard for him
To read 'tween the lines
And his days are getting so much shorter
He simply turns away
Instead of bearing down
His ship is crumbling
His crew is one of clowns
He doesn't care
As long as he can wear the crown
I know this man all too well
Its my poor friend me
A portrayal of the great dichotomy
(a reminder of a tragic history)
Its my poor friend me
And I'm running out of steam
I know there are people
Who are cynical and vane
They point their finger
'cause they can't accept the blame
They live their lives
Under a blanket of shame and their progeny
Crawl from underneath it
Lately I've come
To see the solution
And it begins with me
But I'm so fallibly human
I've picked the lot
Who doesn't have many friends
I know a place he lives
Where trouble never ends
I know its hard for him
To read 'tween the lines
And his days are getting so much shorter
He simply turns away
Instead of bearing down
His ship is crumbling
His crew is one of clowns
He doesn't care
As long as he can wear the crown
I know this man all too well
Its my poor friend me
A portrayal of the great dichotomy
(a reminder of a tragic history)
Its my poor friend me
And I'm running out of steam
I know there are people
Who are cynical and vane
They point their finger
'cause they can't accept the blame
They live their lives
Under a blanket of shame and their progeny
Crawl from underneath it
Lately I've come
To see the solution
And it begins with me
But I'm so fallibly human
I've picked the lot
Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by Rikeus, cbingham, nafada4054
My Poor Friend Me Lyrics as written by Greg Graffin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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Way to complain about wrong lyrics but do nothing to fix it, people. Anyway, looking at the CD booklet, these ARE the lyrics that are included with the CD, but when you listen to the song it's obviously not correct, so it's more a fault of the record publisher/label/whatever they're called. Anyway, I've corrected them to be what I think is correct by listening to the song, if you think I've misheard something then go ahead and edit it yourself though.
Actually, people complaining about the lyrics being wrong and doing nothing about it is exactly the kind of thing this song is about. It's about how people complain constantly about the poor state of the world, but always expect somebody else to fix it, and hardly ever take action themselves.
"Your change was submitted and will be sent to the copyright owner(s) for approval." Ugh, dunno how long this will take.