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 stand accused just like you
For being born without a silver spoon
Stood at the top of a hill
Over my town I was found
I've been on the shelf too long
Sitting at home in my bed too long
Got my things and now I'm gone
How's the world gonna from take me?
Finding myself used to be hard
But now I see the light
If love is a drug
Then I don't need it
I've been on the shelf too long
Sitting at home in my bed too long
Now it's time to hear my song
How are you gonna take it?
I've been on the shelf too long
Think the words without the song
Never had a way to go
Tell me now I'll take it
I've been on the shelf too long
I've been on the shelf too long
I've been on the shelf too long
We've got a lot of living to do
There's a door in my mind that's open wide
Come inside, come inside
Jesus never saved me
He'll never save you too, and you know!
I've got a little sticker on the back of my boot
This is music
And now I see the light shining bright in my eyes
If love is the drug then it ain't for me
Well music is my life
And loved by me
I'm gonna move on the floor with my sweet young thing
Down, down, down we go till I reach the bottom
Of our soul with this is music
For being born without a silver spoon
Stood at the top of a hill
Over my town I was found
I've been on the shelf too long
Sitting at home in my bed too long
Got my things and now I'm gone
How's the world gonna from take me?
Finding myself used to be hard
But now I see the light
If love is a drug
Then I don't need it
I've been on the shelf too long
Sitting at home in my bed too long
Now it's time to hear my song
How are you gonna take it?
I've been on the shelf too long
Think the words without the song
Never had a way to go
Tell me now I'll take it
I've been on the shelf too long
I've been on the shelf too long
I've been on the shelf too long
We've got a lot of living to do
There's a door in my mind that's open wide
Come inside, come inside
Jesus never saved me
He'll never save you too, and you know!
I've got a little sticker on the back of my boot
This is music
And now I see the light shining bright in my eyes
If love is the drug then it ain't for me
Well music is my life
And loved by me
I'm gonna move on the floor with my sweet young thing
Down, down, down we go till I reach the bottom
Of our soul with this is music
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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.
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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.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Wow. One contribution only? This is like the most touching piece of music I have heard in a long while. To me, it's about being a musician. (I've been on the shelf too long. Sitting at home on my bed too long. Now it's time to hear my song.) The name of the song seems to be telling the listener that "music is the life i'm living now; this is music"
The writer sees music as something that reflects his thoughts about his life. Writing a song and the emotions and thoughts that go into it. (We've got a lot of living to do. There's a door in my mind that's open wide)
And of course the fun... (I'm gonna move on the floor with my sweet young thing. Down down down we go till we reach the bottom. Of our soul with this is music.)
How can anyone call Northern Soul dissapointing? That just begs belief. It is so much more honest than the overproduced, steralized more successful successor. To understand the Verve is to understand this album.
This Is Music is my favourite Verve song. I love History, but somehow the London reference by a lad from Wigan grates with me.
It is about musical freedom, discovering your own sound and then getting off your arse to do something with that vision and then making that your all consuming passion (or drug). A passion which ultimately led to friction in the band and the break-up of the Verve.
Simply stunning and I have to admit that on the back of my iPod is engraved the simple lyric "This Is Music", says it all.
what beautiful lyrics! It's sooooooooooooo so pretty there is nothing prettier ever to exist ever. I wish the author were here so I could give him a hug!
Uh...I think I may like it a little too much...
This is a great tune one of the best on the disappointing Northern Soul album. Ashcroft was well know for making a lot of bold statements at this point of his career and going by the title, this seems to be one of them. When the Northern Soul album was in its recording process the band members especially Ashcroft were taking a large amounts of ecstasy. So the lyrics in my opinion could just have an ambiguous meaning as a result of the high's on being on ecstasy.
i .do. love this song. and it's really applicable to any art thing really, that you fall in love with it, that it's your life. also, i can relate, the whole being on my shelf too long and how's the world gonna take me bit. this is really one of the verve's best, in my opinion.
To me this feels like somebody who lives in a small dead end town or somewhere that they dont want to be, and has finally decided they they have had enough and finally gained the strength to leave.
"Stood at the top of a hill over my town, I was found" - Wow.
This song is kinda like Bittersweet Symph. since both involve music and life but This is Music views it (music) as all the things simonflay states and Bittersweet views music as a soundtrack
I think Ashcroft is singing about sucicide because the person in the song hasnt found love or doesnt feel loved.
'Stood at the top of my hill over my town, i was found' - Possibly means suicide
'Ive been on the shelf too long' - 'Left on the shelf' is a term used when someone hasnt gotten married or found love.
Sitting at home on my bed too long - Depression maybe?,
Now it's time to hear my song - Suicide note?
How are you gonna take it - How are you gonna react?
Finding myself used to be hard,But now, I see the light - Now that the person is dead they realise they were wrong about themselves.
If love is a drug,Then I don't need it - They now know they were loved afterall
Jesus never saved me,He'll never save you too, and you know - Jesus didnt save them from themselves,Maybe they have lost faith?
Yeah i know i think to much,Im probably wrong but thats the way i see it.
Ashcroft is a poet.
Or more literally, if he's writing it from his home town point of view, thinking about escape elsewhere (got my things and now i've gone..). plenty of big hills around Wigan, there's Rivington which overlooks Haigh Hall & Country Park, which itself overlooks the valley that the town centre lies in, then hills back up over the other side to ?Billinge, i think? (Apols if any mistakes there, am a newcomer to the land of Pies). could be wrong but some of the pics on the this is music single look like they were shot up rivington.
An arms in the air statement of intent.