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.
Passed the road to your house
That you never called home
Where they turned out your lights
Though they say you'll never know
I remember running through the wet grass
Falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
When they pumped out your guts
And filled you full of those pills
You were never quite right
Deserving all the chills
They say the worst is over
Kicked it over and ran
Then they ask what went wrong
When they turn you on again
They turn you on again
I remember running through the wet grass
Falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
Kick them right in the face
Make them wish they weren't born
And if they bring up your name
Well they'll say you won the war
Baby burst in the world
Never given a chance
Then they ask what went wrong
When you never had it right
Well, you never had it right
Oh the letters have dropped off
Though they say you got them all
I finally figured out some things you'll never know
Take back your life
Let me inside
We'll find the door
If you care, if you care to anymore
I remember running through the wet grass
and falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
That you never called home
Where they turned out your lights
Though they say you'll never know
I remember running through the wet grass
Falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
When they pumped out your guts
And filled you full of those pills
You were never quite right
Deserving all the chills
They say the worst is over
Kicked it over and ran
Then they ask what went wrong
When they turn you on again
They turn you on again
I remember running through the wet grass
Falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
Kick them right in the face
Make them wish they weren't born
And if they bring up your name
Well they'll say you won the war
Baby burst in the world
Never given a chance
Then they ask what went wrong
When you never had it right
Well, you never had it right
Oh the letters have dropped off
Though they say you got them all
I finally figured out some things you'll never know
Take back your life
Let me inside
We'll find the door
If you care, if you care to anymore
I remember running through the wet grass
and falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
Lyrics submitted by oofus
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i try to keep an open mind with lyrics cuz everone has different life experiences to filter things thru. i can see how it could relate to pledging cuz you
re at the mercy of the brotherhood until you are initiated. pledging can both pull you together with your pledgeclass and at the same time mess with your mind and there are a number of pledges (for WHATEVER reasons) who regretfully drop out & dont make it to brotherhood. The singer, now older and wiser is looking back & reflecting on this period of time (figured out some things you`ll never know) is definitely remembering a time gone by but with keener insight & maturity that comes with time.NOW...having said all that, i am leaning more towards jaymac`s interpretation but with a slightly different angle that makes far more sense.
it
s my belief that this song is about a girl (best friend) the singer used to "run" with, who may have had struggled with personal issues growing up but is now married in an abusive home. "...the house that you never called home". AGREED.. it indicates that she never really feels safe there. AGREED she seemsunaware that she is even being abused, AGREED this is often the case with truely abused people; they dont know any differently and think their reality is normal.As time goes on, the girl meets back up with the singer (AGREED her best friend perhaps) & together they run through the grass, never tiring, AGREED almost as an escape from the reality of her life. Also note that it is her escape as the singer tries to keep up with her... "falling a step behind"....
My take on the pills, is not so literal. i think it just represents a break with reality, drug or drinking binge, things a deeper form of self medication... or AGREED her 'escape' has simply become much darker than the innocent grass running routine.
Apparently, at some stage she cuts the singer out of her life... AGREED This is made clear in the lines; "Oh the letters dropped off though they say you got them all
She no longer was capable of making contact with him.
Frustrated he mentally coaches her to fight back with the lines "kick them in the face... " make them wish they weren
t born"...knowing its the right thing with the line "they`ll say you won the war"The line, baby burst in the world, never given a chance.... never had it right" means she had a child and now the baby is part of the abuse, it was never given a choice and will meet the same fate cuz she hasn`t been able to figure things out for herself let alone the new baby.
As for the door, AGREED that he is asking her to trust him. She has problems trusting anyone because the people she once trusted most have hurt her so terribly. He's asking her to let him inside, and together they will find a way out of this mess.
AGREED One major objection to the frat idea comes from the constant use of the words "both of us," which seem to indicate a deeper relationship that exists between only two people. NOTE: Every "Greek" knows that pledge classes refer to themselves as "one".