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.
Got out of bed, wasn't feeling too good
With my wallet and my passport, a new pair of shoes
The sun is shining so I head for the park,
With a bottle of Tequila, and a new pack of cigarettes
I got a cousin and she got a friend,
Who thought that her aunt knew a man who could help
At his apartment I knocked on the door,
He wouldn't come out until he got paid.
Now don't tell anybody what I wanna do
If they find out you know that they'll never let me through.
It's no fun being an illegal alien
It's no fun being an illegal alien
Down at the office had to fill out the forms
A pink one, a red one, the colours you choose,
Up to the counter to see what they think
They said 'It doesn't count man, it ain't written in ink'.
Don't trust anybody least not around here, cause
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
An illegal alien, O.K.
Consideration for your fellow man
Wouldn't hurt anybody, sure fits in with my plan
Over the border, there lies the promised land
So don't tell anybody what I wanna do
If they find out you know that they'll never let me through.
It's no fun being an illegal alien,
It's no fun being an illegal alien,
It's no fun being an illegal alien,
It's no fun being an illegal alien.
With my wallet and my passport, a new pair of shoes
The sun is shining so I head for the park,
With a bottle of Tequila, and a new pack of cigarettes
I got a cousin and she got a friend,
Who thought that her aunt knew a man who could help
At his apartment I knocked on the door,
He wouldn't come out until he got paid.
Now don't tell anybody what I wanna do
If they find out you know that they'll never let me through.
It's no fun being an illegal alien
It's no fun being an illegal alien
Down at the office had to fill out the forms
A pink one, a red one, the colours you choose,
Up to the counter to see what they think
They said 'It doesn't count man, it ain't written in ink'.
Don't trust anybody least not around here, cause
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
An illegal alien, O.K.
Consideration for your fellow man
Wouldn't hurt anybody, sure fits in with my plan
Over the border, there lies the promised land
So don't tell anybody what I wanna do
If they find out you know that they'll never let me through.
It's no fun being an illegal alien,
It's no fun being an illegal alien,
It's no fun being an illegal alien,
It's no fun being an illegal alien.
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by PDXGuy96
Illegal Alien Lyrics as written by Phil Collins Michael Rutherford
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@sadmachine Musically it's a better pop song than many of their other pop hits. The lyrics and their delivery, though...ugh.