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.
Say a prayer for the cityscape skins
Half are getting sprung and half are going back in
Ain't no getting through to Gideon
He, he lost his mind when they jumped him in
Say a prayer for sweet Charlemagne
He had the pigs at the door, he put the drugs down the drain
He's gonna have to come up with seven grand some other way
And the gangster disciples knocked me off of my bicycle
At midnight down by Selby and Griggs
I shouldn't have gone down there but it was too late to switch
You gotta dance with who you came with
You gotta go with what got you there
I came with chipped teeth and bleached blonde hair
You gotta make due with what they gave to you
You know they took ten bucks and my tennis shoes
So say a prayer for the boys in the band
And I was out of my head so it was out of my hands
White wine in the tallboy cans
They powered up and they proceeded to jam, man
Hit it again on the south side of the gym
And my one friend got two girls in a twist
I got stuck with some priss that went and sliced up her wrists
But you know you gotta dance with who you came to the dance with
Half are getting sprung and half are going back in
Ain't no getting through to Gideon
He, he lost his mind when they jumped him in
Say a prayer for sweet Charlemagne
He had the pigs at the door, he put the drugs down the drain
He's gonna have to come up with seven grand some other way
And the gangster disciples knocked me off of my bicycle
At midnight down by Selby and Griggs
I shouldn't have gone down there but it was too late to switch
You gotta dance with who you came with
You gotta go with what got you there
I came with chipped teeth and bleached blonde hair
You gotta make due with what they gave to you
You know they took ten bucks and my tennis shoes
So say a prayer for the boys in the band
And I was out of my head so it was out of my hands
White wine in the tallboy cans
They powered up and they proceeded to jam, man
Hit it again on the south side of the gym
And my one friend got two girls in a twist
I got stuck with some priss that went and sliced up her wrists
But you know you gotta dance with who you came to the dance with
Lyrics submitted by leonperkin
You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came To The Dance With) Lyrics as written by Tad Jason Kubler Craig Finn
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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