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.
Black heart sun rides the sky
Now your eyes are running dry
Oh, like the space around me
I take my spot in time
Who knows who is both your best friend and brother
When everyone's deserted you
Who'd shoot first and ask questions later
If anybody's messed with you
Pretty soon we'll all be tumblin' like a barrel
Thrown from the top of the waterfall, well
I'm drowning in piranhas in the river
Man, what a drag, man
Black heart sun rides the sky
Now your wells are runnin' dry
Like the space around me
I take my spot in time
Who knows who is both your best friend and brother
When everyone's deserted you
Who'd shoot first and ask questions later
If anybody's messed with you
Pretty soon we'll all be tumblin' like a barrel
Thrown from the top of the waterfall, well
I'm drowning in piranhas in the river
Man, what a drag!
Man, what a drag!
Man, what a drag!
I was talkin' to my teacher
Said I didn't have a clue
I think my principles are reachin'
An all time low
I saw my lady in the streetlight
She was walkin' with her man
They were headed for the fire
That was burnin' in the sand
I think my principles are reachin'
An all time low
I think my principles are reachin'
An all time, all time low
All time low
All time low
All time low
All time low
Now your eyes are running dry
Oh, like the space around me
I take my spot in time
Who knows who is both your best friend and brother
When everyone's deserted you
Who'd shoot first and ask questions later
If anybody's messed with you
Pretty soon we'll all be tumblin' like a barrel
Thrown from the top of the waterfall, well
I'm drowning in piranhas in the river
Man, what a drag, man
Black heart sun rides the sky
Now your wells are runnin' dry
Like the space around me
I take my spot in time
Who knows who is both your best friend and brother
When everyone's deserted you
Who'd shoot first and ask questions later
If anybody's messed with you
Pretty soon we'll all be tumblin' like a barrel
Thrown from the top of the waterfall, well
I'm drowning in piranhas in the river
Man, what a drag!
Man, what a drag!
Man, what a drag!
I was talkin' to my teacher
Said I didn't have a clue
I think my principles are reachin'
An all time low
I saw my lady in the streetlight
She was walkin' with her man
They were headed for the fire
That was burnin' in the sand
I think my principles are reachin'
An all time low
I think my principles are reachin'
An all time, all time low
All time low
All time low
All time low
All time low
Lyrics submitted by SuperKind311
All Time Low Lyrics as written by Hermann Bell
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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mikesink is the most accurate. This actually started as a beanland song, which was jojo's first band. I have live cds where they sing some, but not all lyrics. The "principles reaching an all time low" were not on original song with beanland. it morphed into a panic song. So Spreadhead is wrong and to my knowledge this band never delved into serious herion. c'mon dude! And wingnut is just searching for meaning in this world. I really get tired of people relating everything widespread panic to drugs. It ain't about that. Go to everydaycompanion.com sometime and read the lyrics. powerful stuff! Happy 25th anniversary to the boys!