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.
How am I supposed to see,
Since you stole my eyes from me?
I took you to miniature world,
You still felt small.
Misery misery,
Misery misery,
Simple it is simple, Simple is simple,
I forget every single word you tell me,
I forget every single word you tell me,
Simple it is simple, Simple is simple,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da,
Forget the things I'm missing,
This life away, I'm pissing,
You amount to me,
You account for me,
Misery misery,
Misery misery,
Simple it is simple, Simple is simple,
I forget every single word you tell me,
I forget every single word you tell me,
Simple it is simple, Simple is simple,
I forget every single word you tell me,
I forget every single word you tell me,
Simple it is simple, Simple is simple,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da,
Ohâ?¦ I let you down,
Ohâ?¦ I let you down,
Ohâ?¦ I let you down,
I fuckin', let you down.
I forget every single word you tell me,
I forget every single word you tell me,
Simple it is simple, Simple is simple,
I forget every single word you tell me,
I forget every single word you tell me,
Simple it is simple, Simple is simple,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da,
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da-dada
Ba-dada-da-da-da da-dada-dada,
Ba-dada-da-da-da-dada
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Sanders: Even in my youth, my brain was never one to recall past conversations too well. I remember faces without a hitch but names… I guess they’re just labels anway. Old Misery Guts, I like to call this song. After revisiting Old Misery Guts, I forgot how much I enjoyed how the middle eight (or bridge or whatever-the-hell-you-call-it bit of this song) sneaks in and brings a whole different vibe with her. It was written the same day Michael Jeffrey Jordan retired from the NBA, in honour of His Airness Air Jordan #23.