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.
Everyday enemy tried to get the best of me
The enemy under my skin
Everyday enemy, my fatal flaw anatomy
Feelin' like I just can't win
Sometimes I wish I didn't feel that much
Sometimes I wish I didn't need that touch
But everyday my enemy pretend to be a friend to me
No matter what state I'm in
But you're never gonna take my fire
I cannot not be tamed
No, you're never gonna take my fire
It's burning in my veins
Ay! You say the world is changing
But I still burn the same
No, you're never gonna take my fire
Take my fire
Oh, let me burn now
Yeah, the safety that you're sellin' me, one day be the death of me
A face like you just saw ghosts
Images on the box again, taking up all the oxygen
Tell me how we sunk this low
Ain't it coming, ain't the end in sight
To steal it back like a thief in the night
There's my own sworn enemy, faking and pretend to be
A wolf in a sheepskin coat
But you're never gonna take my fire
In spite of all your rain
No, you're never gonna take my fire
It's burning in my veins
Ay! You say the world is changing
But I still burn the same
No, you're never gonna take my fire
Take my fire
Because
I'm a fighter, a soul all-nighter
I'ma recognize the truth, I'ma recognize a liar
You're never gonna take my fire
True beginner, a loser and a winner
Part Saint, part sinner
And all of me desire
You're never gonna take my fire
I'm a giver, a one-arrow quiver
I've been sending my regrets
Down the river of fire
You're never gonna take my, my fire
A loose, live wire
I'm a one-shot rocket aiming higher and higher
And higher
'Cause you're never gonna take my fire
Ay! No, you're never gonna take my fire, oh, oh
The ancient flame lit the spark back before I was young
When I'm speaking with the fire, it's my native tongue
No, you're never gonna take my fire
Take my fire
Let me burn now
The enemy under my skin
Everyday enemy, my fatal flaw anatomy
Feelin' like I just can't win
Sometimes I wish I didn't feel that much
Sometimes I wish I didn't need that touch
But everyday my enemy pretend to be a friend to me
No matter what state I'm in
But you're never gonna take my fire
I cannot not be tamed
No, you're never gonna take my fire
It's burning in my veins
Ay! You say the world is changing
But I still burn the same
No, you're never gonna take my fire
Take my fire
Oh, let me burn now
Yeah, the safety that you're sellin' me, one day be the death of me
A face like you just saw ghosts
Images on the box again, taking up all the oxygen
Tell me how we sunk this low
Ain't it coming, ain't the end in sight
To steal it back like a thief in the night
There's my own sworn enemy, faking and pretend to be
A wolf in a sheepskin coat
But you're never gonna take my fire
In spite of all your rain
No, you're never gonna take my fire
It's burning in my veins
Ay! You say the world is changing
But I still burn the same
No, you're never gonna take my fire
Take my fire
Because
I'm a fighter, a soul all-nighter
I'ma recognize the truth, I'ma recognize a liar
You're never gonna take my fire
True beginner, a loser and a winner
Part Saint, part sinner
And all of me desire
You're never gonna take my fire
I'm a giver, a one-arrow quiver
I've been sending my regrets
Down the river of fire
You're never gonna take my, my fire
A loose, live wire
I'm a one-shot rocket aiming higher and higher
And higher
'Cause you're never gonna take my fire
Ay! No, you're never gonna take my fire, oh, oh
The ancient flame lit the spark back before I was young
When I'm speaking with the fire, it's my native tongue
No, you're never gonna take my fire
Take my fire
Let me burn now
Lyrics submitted by switchchick, edited by ryanwhite
Take My Fire Lyrics as written by Timothy David Foreman Jonathan Mark Foreman
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I can see how you can easily mistake this song to be about people being in love, but that's definitely not what this song is about. I'm not sure if you knew Switchfoot was a Christian band (I myself didn't know that until I become a christian about 5 years ago and had been listening to Switchfoot for years before that), but this song is all about the feeling one gets when it comes to the power of God, the LOVE of God! It is a powerful feeling. However, I can see how you may have interpretted it differently.