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.
left some food wrapped up
in a plastic bag
on the kitchen table
way too long
i sat down to eat
next to the bag
i was too tired
to throw it out
i saw a swarm of fruit flies
i took the bag downstairs
when i came back
they were still there
flying jerky patterns
like snowflakes in the air
i’m sorry you’ve got nowhere to go
left straight right straight
i can’t find a reason
i know i’ll keep going but
i can’t find a reason
nothing looks right
nothing smells right
and i can’t land
geometric patterns
smearing out of control
only have enough gas left
for the beercan to the bowl
what can you do but go on?
oh no you make your own mistakes
i cannot bring them back to you
oh no you make your own mistakes
i cannot measure up to you
in a plastic bag
on the kitchen table
way too long
i sat down to eat
next to the bag
i was too tired
to throw it out
i saw a swarm of fruit flies
i took the bag downstairs
when i came back
they were still there
flying jerky patterns
like snowflakes in the air
i’m sorry you’ve got nowhere to go
left straight right straight
i can’t find a reason
i know i’ll keep going but
i can’t find a reason
nothing looks right
nothing smells right
and i can’t land
geometric patterns
smearing out of control
only have enough gas left
for the beercan to the bowl
what can you do but go on?
oh no you make your own mistakes
i cannot bring them back to you
oh no you make your own mistakes
i cannot measure up to you
Lyrics submitted by ruben
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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.
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I take the lyrics in Fruit Fly as both literal and metaphorical.
For me, it sounds like Matthew has seen some flies buzzing around in his kitchen, and instead of seeing it as just that, he sees it in a deeper, more metaphorical sense and relates the flies behavior to his own. He relates how they are flying around meaningless, with no where to go, nothing to do, and realises he sees himself in the same way.
Thats how I take it anyway...
Beautiful song though. I can really relate to it in my life at the moment.