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'm one of many, I speak for the rest but I don't understand
Tonight tonight, oh tonight, tonight
He brings another day another night, another fight
Well there's another day done and there's another gone by
He's a man of our times a man of our times
Tonight tonight, oh he's burning bright
He's a man of our times, he's a man of our times, ooh, ooh, ooh.
And in the beating of your heart there is another beating heart
All at once I can see what we do,
Me into me and you into you
Me into me and you into you
Tonight, tonight, oh he's s burning bright
Everyone is on their feet cos he is out, out on the street
There's another day done and there's another gone by.
No more me into me and you into you
Tonight tonight, oh he's burning bright.
Man of our times, he's a man of our times
He's a man of our times, ooh, ooh, ooh.
And in the beating of your heart, there is another beating heart
He's a man of our times...
Tonight tonight, oh tonight, tonight
He brings another day another night, another fight
Well there's another day done and there's another gone by
He's a man of our times a man of our times
Tonight tonight, oh he's burning bright
He's a man of our times, he's a man of our times, ooh, ooh, ooh.
And in the beating of your heart there is another beating heart
All at once I can see what we do,
Me into me and you into you
Me into me and you into you
Tonight, tonight, oh he's s burning bright
Everyone is on their feet cos he is out, out on the street
There's another day done and there's another gone by.
No more me into me and you into you
Tonight tonight, oh he's burning bright.
Man of our times, he's a man of our times
He's a man of our times, ooh, ooh, ooh.
And in the beating of your heart, there is another beating heart
He's a man of our times...
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Raggon
Man of Our Times Lyrics as written by Michael Rutherford
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a wonderful "mood" song on the album "Duke" and works nicely with the other Banks/Rutherford pieces, and thankfully outweighs the pop selections that Collins there. While his voice and drumming are a stunning fit for the band, it is unfortunate that he steered them so far into the mainstream.
The song intends more epic scale than its length allows; the feeling evoked is intense. The lyrics are vague enough to give you the right to fill in your own blanks, but angry/haunted enough to nudge you in the right direction.
@pushthebuttonfrank it’s been a long time. But this is BS. Accusing Phil of steering the band to some hope for its greatness is ridiculous. They were destined for greatness because of the mesh of the three. Duke may be their best album.