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.
(chorus) What in the hell is wrong with people
The deranged should be caged
What is wrong with people
It must be them can’t you see
That it couldn’t be me
Where their road ends
That’s where mine begins…
There’s a giant hole in my heart
But all I have to do
Is fill it up with alcohol
It closes all the holes
It hides all my boredom
And subdues my restlessness
It enhances my personality
But makes me order 3 orders of buffalo wings
When I would normally have just one
It forces me to bob my head to songs that I really really hate
And it makes me want to strike someone at the bar
Who orders 2 waters with lemon
And once again I find myself bobbing my head to a mediocre song
When I notice 2 marginally attractive girls parking it next to me at the bar
Sipping spring water with a twist of lemon
(chorus)
and I’m ready to puke when a small child sits next to me at the bar
but that’s ok because to me other people’s kids are fine
so it’s no surprise that it’s parents are ordering water with lemon
and a root beer for the child
do you ever find yourself striving for perfection
with a virtually worthless attempt at it
and is that why I find myself eavesdropping constantly
sports bars are the best places to meet people you hate
not that I’ve actually met anyone
it’s just a matter of listening to their conversations and assuming that you hate them
when of coarse that probably isn’t true
because I can get along with anyone if I absolutely have to
(chorus)
oh here we go a couple a few tables down just ordered lunch
the guy wearing a basketball tank top is having a veggie burger with fruit instead of fries
and his husky date is just having a salad…it must be their first date
and what goes better with rabbit food than ice water with a slice of lemon
sometimes I think if I could be anyone in the whole world I would be a magician
no than I would hate myself more than I already do
but at least then I could make all of these people in the bar be more like me
or even make them befriend me but then again I could become one of them
and only then would I understand the befits
of putting a slice of lemon in ordinary drinking water
(chorus)
The deranged should be caged
What is wrong with people
It must be them can’t you see
That it couldn’t be me
Where their road ends
That’s where mine begins…
There’s a giant hole in my heart
But all I have to do
Is fill it up with alcohol
It closes all the holes
It hides all my boredom
And subdues my restlessness
It enhances my personality
But makes me order 3 orders of buffalo wings
When I would normally have just one
It forces me to bob my head to songs that I really really hate
And it makes me want to strike someone at the bar
Who orders 2 waters with lemon
And once again I find myself bobbing my head to a mediocre song
When I notice 2 marginally attractive girls parking it next to me at the bar
Sipping spring water with a twist of lemon
(chorus)
and I’m ready to puke when a small child sits next to me at the bar
but that’s ok because to me other people’s kids are fine
so it’s no surprise that it’s parents are ordering water with lemon
and a root beer for the child
do you ever find yourself striving for perfection
with a virtually worthless attempt at it
and is that why I find myself eavesdropping constantly
sports bars are the best places to meet people you hate
not that I’ve actually met anyone
it’s just a matter of listening to their conversations and assuming that you hate them
when of coarse that probably isn’t true
because I can get along with anyone if I absolutely have to
(chorus)
oh here we go a couple a few tables down just ordered lunch
the guy wearing a basketball tank top is having a veggie burger with fruit instead of fries
and his husky date is just having a salad…it must be their first date
and what goes better with rabbit food than ice water with a slice of lemon
sometimes I think if I could be anyone in the whole world I would be a magician
no than I would hate myself more than I already do
but at least then I could make all of these people in the bar be more like me
or even make them befriend me but then again I could become one of them
and only then would I understand the befits
of putting a slice of lemon in ordinary drinking water
(chorus)
Lyrics submitted by BECERRO
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Corpse I Fell In Love With
Gadjits, The
Gadjits, The
He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
Grand Theft Auto
Insane Ian
Insane Ian
The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
This is song is so damn hilarious...I love it. It's probably about a guy just rambling off and wondering why people like lemon in water...
i hate this "song"
this song kicks ass, and its hilarious. ive done that before just like zoned out and started thinking random stuff. guttermouth kicks ass. -[pAt]
This is probably the smartest song Guttermouth has ever done. (not saying much, but still...) It's so true... when you're anti-social and you don't want to talk to people, you make excuses in your head as to why you won't talk to them and why you don't like them. Drinking water with lemon in it is as good of a reason as any.
This is probably the smartest song Guttermouth has ever done. (not saying much, but still...) It's so true... when you're anti-social and you don't want to talk to people, you make excuses in your head as to why you won't talk to them and why you don't like them. Drinking water with lemon in it is as good of a reason as any.