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've seen you a couple of times
Guess I've seen you three times
Walking circles around me
When you stand in front of my eyes
I'll make sure I'll look
I'll make sure I'll look
I'll make sure I'll look
Away
Away, away
Away
She like a little Chinese
She is Chinese
Maybe it would be nicer if I said Japanese
She comes around you and me
And when you stand in front of my eyes
I will look
I will look
I will look
Away, away, away
Away, away, away
She looks in distress
She looks impressive
When she is dancing her little home dance on me
Roll, roll, roll away, away, away, away
Guess I've seen you three times
Walking circles around me
When you stand in front of my eyes
I'll make sure I'll look
I'll make sure I'll look
I'll make sure I'll look
Away
Away, away
Away
She like a little Chinese
She is Chinese
Maybe it would be nicer if I said Japanese
She comes around you and me
And when you stand in front of my eyes
I will look
I will look
I will look
Away, away, away
Away, away, away
She looks in distress
She looks impressive
When she is dancing her little home dance on me
Roll, roll, roll away, away, away, away
Lyrics submitted by MarsTheStrange, edited by scottdoesntknow628
3 Times Lyrics as written by Chan Marshall
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
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I think we'd both agree that she's acknowledging the fact that she is mocking someone here (a woman, the "Chinese"); I just see the reason for it being that this woman replaced her in a relationship or something.
The vision I've always had in my head when I hear this song is that a relationship has ended, and now she's seeing her ex-lover with another woman (I've seen you a couple of times), and she's so raw that her experience of it is almost as if they are taunting her (Walking circles around me, I'll look away / She looks impressive when she's dancing her little home dance on me). Maybe the other woman broke up the relationship? (She comes around you and me).
I really don't think we'll ever know what it's about unless she discusses it, which I doubt will ever happen. Your interpretation is fascinating though; definitely an entirely different vision of what the lyrics mean. I like the idea a lot.