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.
It'll get so quiet when this record ends
You can hear the first hour of the world
You can hear the willow branches touch the wave
Write our names beside our darlings hearts
You can hear the willow branches touch the wave
Write our names beside nothing
Rise moon, on the shores of the sea
Shine on the distance between me
And the last thing I see
Let it be me helping
Let it be me, honestly
Let it be me working
On being a better me
Now light the field for the big game tonight
Mark Twain to Thomas Jefferson:
Strike
Luke the Drifter to Zimmerman:
Line drive to keep the team alive
To keep the team alive
Rise moon, on the shores of the sea
Shine on the distance between me
And the last thing I see
Let it be me helping
Let it be me, honestly
Let it be me working
On being a better me
Unitas to Berry
Unitas to Berry
So good it's scary
With everything against you, sweetness
You get the first down again
See it's ones like this you can always trust
Not to disappoint us
Moon shine that white-lightning light
Down on the possums stage tonight
Maybe I'm the man in black
You could hold a little something back
To let his eyes adjust to the light
Rise moon, right above me
Rise moon, right above me
Rise moon, right above me
Show an American, if really
I am the snake, they're all saying
If they look up here, do they see just my black tail swaying?
If I'm all fangs, and all lies, and all poison
If I'm really what they're saying
I don't want to disappoint them
You can hear the first hour of the world
You can hear the willow branches touch the wave
Write our names beside our darlings hearts
You can hear the willow branches touch the wave
Write our names beside nothing
Rise moon, on the shores of the sea
Shine on the distance between me
And the last thing I see
Let it be me helping
Let it be me, honestly
Let it be me working
On being a better me
Now light the field for the big game tonight
Mark Twain to Thomas Jefferson:
Strike
Luke the Drifter to Zimmerman:
Line drive to keep the team alive
To keep the team alive
Rise moon, on the shores of the sea
Shine on the distance between me
And the last thing I see
Let it be me helping
Let it be me, honestly
Let it be me working
On being a better me
Unitas to Berry
Unitas to Berry
So good it's scary
With everything against you, sweetness
You get the first down again
See it's ones like this you can always trust
Not to disappoint us
Moon shine that white-lightning light
Down on the possums stage tonight
Maybe I'm the man in black
You could hold a little something back
To let his eyes adjust to the light
Rise moon, right above me
Rise moon, right above me
Rise moon, right above me
Show an American, if really
I am the snake, they're all saying
If they look up here, do they see just my black tail swaying?
If I'm all fangs, and all lies, and all poison
If I'm really what they're saying
I don't want to disappoint them
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No comments till 2018?
What an amazing song. The big game is a metaphor for rock and roll, the battle against depression, the battle to survive. The players are the writers , performers, and characters who perfectly expressed this struggle 'to be me working, to be me helping, to be me honestly . . '
The first verse gives a sense of incredible silence and distance, a beautiful haunting sense of dislocation with which to view the great metaphor.
Mark Twain and Thomas Jefferson ground the American literary tradition - both also were strong on not sugar-coating the truth in their own way. Luke the Drifter was Hank Williams' spiritual alias, and Zımmerman is, of course, Dylan. That's the American songwriting tradition. Johnny Unitas was a famous quarterback (the game apparently has the same rules and play as US football), I forget for which team. Berry is probably Chuck Berry, but there might also be a famous athlete by that name. All heroes who 'brought the first down again', or proved the power of their words and actions to uplift the human spirit against the darkness.
I'm not sure which Possums he's referring to - maybe a team, or maybe those who sleep and hide from the light? The line about the Man in Black seems to ask for mercy for the (recently departed, when this was recorded) Johnny Cash, to let him 'adjust his eyes to the light'.
The end is beautiful, but odd. 'I wouldn't want to disappoint them' seems to suggest that he's doing something evil and snake-like. But I think its clear which side of the big game Jason is on, and that the other team is Death.
Unfortunately for all of us, Death beat Jason one night in 2013. But he helped us win all the others - and still does. Every night.
@nathan1149 <br /> <br /> Enjoyed reading your comments on this amazing song and wanted to offer the following. <br /> <br /> Unitas to Berry likely refers to Johnny Unitas (QB) and Raymond Berry (Split End) who were considered to be a dominate passing and receiving duo while playing together for the Baltimore Colts from mid 1950’s to mid 1960’s. <br /> <br /> The Possum is likely a reference to Country singer George Jones aka “The Possum”.
@nathan1149 baltimoresun.com/maryland/bal-md.rodricks18sep18-column.html