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.
It was late last night
I was feeling something wasn't right
There was not another soul in sight
Only you, only you
So we walked along
Though I knew that there was something wrong
And a feeling hit me oh so strong, about you
Then you gazed up at me and the answer was plain to see
'Cause I saw the light in your eyes (eyes, in your eyes)
In your eyes (in your eyes)
Though we had our fling (we had our fling)
I just never would suspect a thing (suspect a thing)
'Til that little bell began to ring (began to ring)
In my head, in my head
But I tried to run (I tried to run)
Though I knew it wouldn't help me none (not help me no)
'Cause I couldn't ever love no one, or so I said
But my feelings for you
Were just something I never knew
'Til I saw the light in your eyes (in your eyes)
In your eyes (in your eyes)
But I love you best
It's not something that I say in jest
'Cause you're different, girl, from all the rest
In my eyes
And I ran out before, but I won't do it anymore
Can't you see the light in my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes
I was feeling something wasn't right
There was not another soul in sight
Only you, only you
So we walked along
Though I knew that there was something wrong
And a feeling hit me oh so strong, about you
Then you gazed up at me and the answer was plain to see
'Cause I saw the light in your eyes (eyes, in your eyes)
In your eyes (in your eyes)
Though we had our fling (we had our fling)
I just never would suspect a thing (suspect a thing)
'Til that little bell began to ring (began to ring)
In my head, in my head
But I tried to run (I tried to run)
Though I knew it wouldn't help me none (not help me no)
'Cause I couldn't ever love no one, or so I said
But my feelings for you
Were just something I never knew
'Til I saw the light in your eyes (in your eyes)
In your eyes (in your eyes)
But I love you best
It's not something that I say in jest
'Cause you're different, girl, from all the rest
In my eyes
And I ran out before, but I won't do it anymore
Can't you see the light in my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes (in your eyes)
In my eyes
Lyrics submitted by Bobo192, edited by ladeevah0924
I Saw the Light Lyrics as written by Todd Rundgren
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song captures the profound moment, being transfixed in love. The setting for the moment is dreamy, late, private and mysterious. In the first stanza, images of soulful feelings (L1, L3-L5) alternate with feelings of vague uncertainty (L2, L6). Then the magic moment happens: “you gazed up at me.” In that moment he sees the gift of love, the light, and he is transformed. The second stanza explains what happened in the moment. Even though he had love inklings (little bell), he had tried to keep his defenses up (a fling, tried to run, saying he couldn’t love). The earlier tension between soulful feelings and insecurity resolve in that profound love moment. The third stanza returns to the moment. As he sees the love in the eyes of his beloved, he simultaneously experiences his love, his light. He is transfixed, and the moment changes everything, he is devoted.
Rundgren, who is a brilliant, productive, and meticulous artist downplayed this simple, elegant song, saying it was cliché filled and quickly written. He probably takes most pride in the more hard fought products of his storied career, which has explored musical forms from energetic rock to jazz fusion, created innovations in audio production engineering, and built collaborations with rockers, pop-artists, and even symphonies. I get that. But, Mr. Rundgren, don’t be too hard on this song, because a brilliant, hardworking musician can sometimes only need an inspired "moment" to create, transfix, and illuminate the light in our eyes.