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 stood under ohio's skies
I could see the open fields for miles
I thought "what the hell am I doing back here again?"
But now I'm trying to reassemble the things I kept and
The pictures fade but I hope to resurrect
The things that kept me sane back then
In the backyard playing on the swingset
Dark green shoes off you can get your feet wet
Mom and dad sat quiet in the sunroom
Sundown, big moon, big sky.
Now I just want to live a normal life
Get a fast car and a pretty wife
We could have children of our own
Settle down here until they're grown
We could buy a house out on the beach
And just die there, out of reach
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life with me
Live
A normal life with me
For years I cursed these dead end streets
No where to go, no one to meet
We only talked about the crazy woman down the road
But everything makes much more sense now
Someday I'll have my own house
I'll make enough to make it easier to pay the phone bill
In the backyard playing on the swingset
Dark green shoes off you can get your feet wet
My wife and I will sit quiet in the sunroom
Sundown, big moon, big sky.
I just want to live a normal life
Get a fast car and a pretty wife
We could have children of our own
Settle down here until they're grown
We could buy a house out on the beach
And just die there, out of reach
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life
I'll watch the kids until you get home
4:58 and you're on the phone
Coming back from work on Friday
Wide-awake in the american dream
I'll make the bed, you feed the cat
Could it really be as simple as that? (yeah)
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life with me
Do you want to live a normal life with me
Now I just want to live a normal life
Get a fast car and a pretty wife
We could have children of our own
Settle down here until they're grown
I just want to live a normal life
Get a fast car and a pretty wife
We could have children of our own
Settle down here until they're grown
We could buy a house out on the beach
And just die there, out of reach
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life with me?
I could see the open fields for miles
I thought "what the hell am I doing back here again?"
But now I'm trying to reassemble the things I kept and
The pictures fade but I hope to resurrect
The things that kept me sane back then
In the backyard playing on the swingset
Dark green shoes off you can get your feet wet
Mom and dad sat quiet in the sunroom
Sundown, big moon, big sky.
Now I just want to live a normal life
Get a fast car and a pretty wife
We could have children of our own
Settle down here until they're grown
We could buy a house out on the beach
And just die there, out of reach
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life with me
Live
A normal life with me
For years I cursed these dead end streets
No where to go, no one to meet
We only talked about the crazy woman down the road
But everything makes much more sense now
Someday I'll have my own house
I'll make enough to make it easier to pay the phone bill
In the backyard playing on the swingset
Dark green shoes off you can get your feet wet
My wife and I will sit quiet in the sunroom
Sundown, big moon, big sky.
I just want to live a normal life
Get a fast car and a pretty wife
We could have children of our own
Settle down here until they're grown
We could buy a house out on the beach
And just die there, out of reach
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life
I'll watch the kids until you get home
4:58 and you're on the phone
Coming back from work on Friday
Wide-awake in the american dream
I'll make the bed, you feed the cat
Could it really be as simple as that? (yeah)
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life with me
Do you want to live a normal life with me
Now I just want to live a normal life
Get a fast car and a pretty wife
We could have children of our own
Settle down here until they're grown
I just want to live a normal life
Get a fast car and a pretty wife
We could have children of our own
Settle down here until they're grown
We could buy a house out on the beach
And just die there, out of reach
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life
Do you want to live
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life
Do you want to live
Do you want to live a normal life with me?
Lyrics submitted by mAkEaWiSh*
Normal Life Lyrics as written by Joseph A. Hedges
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is fucking great, can i download it or not? Some body IM me.
this song rocks, it's the perfect song, i think if it got enough airplay, it can throw of those non-alternative poppy stuff off the #1 spot
This song is great. I saw one of their acoustic showings and they were great. I'm suprised this song has not been on the radio at all. This is better then most of the songs out there and seems radio friendly. The meaning of it to me it is about just settling down and living a normal life.
Los, you can download their music, they really don't care, cause they download music too.
I've seen JFK about 6 times now or so, and they are nothing but nice after every show, they are always talking to their fans and signing autographs on anything you toss out there for them and drinking beers with everyone.
Just an example, it was my buddies brothers girlfirends birthday and she is their biggest fan but she was in another state and couldnt make it to the show, so the boys in the band all got on the phone with her and wished her a happy birthday and they signed my friends ticket stub and he gave it to her for her birthday.
They are just genuinely nice guys and I really hope they make it big (well, bigger then they are right now)
P.S. T (the bassist) is awesome, anytime any of you see him at a show, buy the man a shot, cause he's a really cool guy.
Hey OSU. I completely agree with you that T is awesome, but the rest of them are too!!! I have been watching them play for about 4 years now, and I remember I about wrecked my car when I first heard Normal Life on the radio on a Cincinnati station. I wait for the day to see these guys on MTV!!!!!!
i love the simplicty of this song. its so simple, yet elegant. asking for simply a perfect little life. makes me want one. [[laughs]]
is there an old man singing it?
hellooooo?
PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I was in 7th grade I was referred to July for Kings by my friend Mikey, who knows Joe Hedges.
That was about 7 years ago now, and Normal Life is still my most played song.
This song is the reason I even bothered to make an account here.