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.
Somebody told me
I know where to go
Somebody showed me
I was last to know
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
What I wanted
Is what I wanted
What I wanted
Is what she wanted
Unfriendly feelings
Down on wounded knee
Unfriendly reasons
Some blind mother's need
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
What I wanted
Is what we wanted
What we wanted
Is what she wanted
You read the words
And it sells you life
They sell their words
But it's all a lie
Somebody told me
I know where to go
Somebody showed me
I was last to know
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
What I wanted
Is what I wanted
What we wanted
Is what we wanted
What I wanted
Is what I wanted, yeah
What we wanted, yeah
What she wanted
The second album
Twelve precious melodies
Worth listening
Hope you enjoy them
Like if it's sung to me
Listen to twelve great tunes
Playing on your stereo
Dining and dancing too
Entertain on the piano
The second album
Twelve gracious melodies
To listen
Include this number
Keeping you company
Well getting on the record soon
Grooving on an afternoon
That's on my album too
This album cover
Looks similar like Johnny Mathis
For Mathis lovers this album has his style
Beautiful numbers are heard on the car radio
After all records are cut in the recording studio
My second album
One dozen melodies to listen
Include this number
Keeping in company
Well, hoping that this record sells
Singing by our wishing well
That's on my album too
The second album
I know where to go
Somebody showed me
I was last to know
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
What I wanted
Is what I wanted
What I wanted
Is what she wanted
Unfriendly feelings
Down on wounded knee
Unfriendly reasons
Some blind mother's need
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
What I wanted
Is what we wanted
What we wanted
Is what she wanted
You read the words
And it sells you life
They sell their words
But it's all a lie
Somebody told me
I know where to go
Somebody showed me
I was last to know
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
Sell me down the river
What I wanted
Is what I wanted
What we wanted
Is what we wanted
What I wanted
Is what I wanted, yeah
What we wanted, yeah
What she wanted
The second album
Twelve precious melodies
Worth listening
Hope you enjoy them
Like if it's sung to me
Listen to twelve great tunes
Playing on your stereo
Dining and dancing too
Entertain on the piano
The second album
Twelve gracious melodies
To listen
Include this number
Keeping you company
Well getting on the record soon
Grooving on an afternoon
That's on my album too
This album cover
Looks similar like Johnny Mathis
For Mathis lovers this album has his style
Beautiful numbers are heard on the car radio
After all records are cut in the recording studio
My second album
One dozen melodies to listen
Include this number
Keeping in company
Well, hoping that this record sells
Singing by our wishing well
That's on my album too
The second album
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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.”
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sell me down the river could be the child talking to the mother who wants to have the abortion