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.
Sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t apologize so much
that it’s jive it’s a crutch
I just used when I’m judged
bein’ fudged by a face I can’t erase and can’t see
cuz I misplaced a dossier or Monty Python CD
or somethin’ stupid like that
but jesus is that so bad
to make my ego go splat
like a tire goin’ flat
or fat on a big mac
I’m bein’ attacked
tit for tat
you fuckin’ bureaucrats
you can just apologize back
(bridge)
But I don’t know when it comes and it goes
all the highs and the lows
in this motionless psychosis
ieeieei and I die fadin’ straight away
ieeieei and I cry every waking day
I don’t know what else to say
(chorus)
I’m sorry for the mess
the stupid way I’m dressed
I guess I failed my test
oh don’t you know I’m sorry for my views
I musta been confused
and yet you know that really I’m sorry for you
Well now I don’t mean to offend, much
just comprehend
when you’re female and you’re fenced in and
phen-phened to no end
and no zen guide to men will help you fend off the brethren
and then the pen appears
and better than the oxygen network
or the sword or the spear or the fork
or the bored pork-fed horde
it’s a mooring post
the whore you’ll miss the most when you’re away
when you’re in Snowshoe PA
doin’ some play from Backstage
that deals with AIDS and race and gays and
relationships and ballet
and then you’re like “hey yay what’d you say?
I can just sing my troubles away?”
but then you’re fucked
‘cause you gotta make a buck
and the whole world sucks
and you’re like a lame duck
that’s lyin’ dyin’ tryin’ to sell out
but there’s no one buyin’ and there’s all this doubt
and you can preen and dream and scream and shot
but your life’s affliction is the fiction of Faust
(bridge)
I’m sorry for the time
the stupid way I rhyme
I knew I shoulda chose a life of crime
I’m sorry for my blues
I guess it’s all old news
and yet you know that really I’m sorry for you
I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry
I also mirror this apology
this idealogy of sorry
in part of the liberal theology that’s leading us to hari-kari
it’s like a mythology, almost
like a malingering ghost
as we slowly decompose
writing in the grave of the polls
cryin’ for Senator Wellstone and then proceeding to moan
at our own supposed sabotage of the elections at home
“oh somebody phone home!
the American people have spoken!”
now is that certain?
maybe those nice Midwestern folks were just jokin’
in any case there’s no use in dopin’ chokin’ mopin’ and sobbin’
come on you disheartenin’ dobbins
sayin’ sorry is my problem
so to conclude
I’m a little of a prude
so it’s difficult for me to have to allude
to all this rude crude verbal baggage
but I manage cuz I’m a savage inside
I may listen to Enya’s greatest hits
and try to control my hissy fits with pride
won’t get my hair dyed
but oh the onus of lyin’ all the time
I don’t wanna say, “diiiie motherfucker!”
but I wouldn’t mind if you did
Janet Reno has no ego when devoured by the id
and so before I flip my lid my crib
and get myself out of this bind
you can hear what’s on my lips but you don’t know
what’s in my mind
I’m sorry for the mess
the stupid way I’m dressed
I guess I failed my test
oh don’t you know I’m sorry for my views
I don't know how to schmooze
and yet you know that really I’m sorry for you
I’m sorry for you I’m sorry for you
I’m sorry
waaaah
that it’s jive it’s a crutch
I just used when I’m judged
bein’ fudged by a face I can’t erase and can’t see
cuz I misplaced a dossier or Monty Python CD
or somethin’ stupid like that
but jesus is that so bad
to make my ego go splat
like a tire goin’ flat
or fat on a big mac
I’m bein’ attacked
tit for tat
you fuckin’ bureaucrats
you can just apologize back
(bridge)
But I don’t know when it comes and it goes
all the highs and the lows
in this motionless psychosis
ieeieei and I die fadin’ straight away
ieeieei and I cry every waking day
I don’t know what else to say
(chorus)
I’m sorry for the mess
the stupid way I’m dressed
I guess I failed my test
oh don’t you know I’m sorry for my views
I musta been confused
and yet you know that really I’m sorry for you
Well now I don’t mean to offend, much
just comprehend
when you’re female and you’re fenced in and
phen-phened to no end
and no zen guide to men will help you fend off the brethren
and then the pen appears
and better than the oxygen network
or the sword or the spear or the fork
or the bored pork-fed horde
it’s a mooring post
the whore you’ll miss the most when you’re away
when you’re in Snowshoe PA
doin’ some play from Backstage
that deals with AIDS and race and gays and
relationships and ballet
and then you’re like “hey yay what’d you say?
I can just sing my troubles away?”
but then you’re fucked
‘cause you gotta make a buck
and the whole world sucks
and you’re like a lame duck
that’s lyin’ dyin’ tryin’ to sell out
but there’s no one buyin’ and there’s all this doubt
and you can preen and dream and scream and shot
but your life’s affliction is the fiction of Faust
(bridge)
I’m sorry for the time
the stupid way I rhyme
I knew I shoulda chose a life of crime
I’m sorry for my blues
I guess it’s all old news
and yet you know that really I’m sorry for you
I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry
I also mirror this apology
this idealogy of sorry
in part of the liberal theology that’s leading us to hari-kari
it’s like a mythology, almost
like a malingering ghost
as we slowly decompose
writing in the grave of the polls
cryin’ for Senator Wellstone and then proceeding to moan
at our own supposed sabotage of the elections at home
“oh somebody phone home!
the American people have spoken!”
now is that certain?
maybe those nice Midwestern folks were just jokin’
in any case there’s no use in dopin’ chokin’ mopin’ and sobbin’
come on you disheartenin’ dobbins
sayin’ sorry is my problem
so to conclude
I’m a little of a prude
so it’s difficult for me to have to allude
to all this rude crude verbal baggage
but I manage cuz I’m a savage inside
I may listen to Enya’s greatest hits
and try to control my hissy fits with pride
won’t get my hair dyed
but oh the onus of lyin’ all the time
I don’t wanna say, “diiiie motherfucker!”
but I wouldn’t mind if you did
Janet Reno has no ego when devoured by the id
and so before I flip my lid my crib
and get myself out of this bind
you can hear what’s on my lips but you don’t know
what’s in my mind
I’m sorry for the mess
the stupid way I’m dressed
I guess I failed my test
oh don’t you know I’m sorry for my views
I don't know how to schmooze
and yet you know that really I’m sorry for you
I’m sorry for you I’m sorry for you
I’m sorry
waaaah
Lyrics submitted by ToroTrash, edited by StrictSlam
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