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.
The shades go up
Mother's staring down
She don't know where he's been
Or how long he's been out
She said, "Boy, I'm tired of waiting up
While you're out with your friends"
He said, "Mom, I'm trying
And I'm living my life the best way that I can"
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm trying to be somebody
I'm not trying to be somebody else
This life is mine I'm living
Don't you know me, I won't ever let you down
The days come
The son is moving on
She don't know where he'll go
Or when he's coming home
She said, "Son, take care
Don't let your dreams get too far out of sight"
He said, "I love you, now don't worry about me
You know I'll be fine"
[Chorus]
I'm not trying to be somebody else
(Don't you know me I won't ever let you,
I won't ever let you down)
What they say
What they know
What they think
Won't ever bring me down
This life is mine
And I am my own
I'm trying to be somebody
I'm not trying to be somebody else
This life is mine I lead
Don't you know me?
[Chorus]
I'm not trying to be somebody else
Don't you know me, I won't ever let you down
Oh Lord, I won't be nobody else
This life is mine
And I am my own
Mother's staring down
She don't know where he's been
Or how long he's been out
She said, "Boy, I'm tired of waiting up
While you're out with your friends"
He said, "Mom, I'm trying
And I'm living my life the best way that I can"
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm trying to be somebody
I'm not trying to be somebody else
This life is mine I'm living
Don't you know me, I won't ever let you down
The days come
The son is moving on
She don't know where he'll go
Or when he's coming home
She said, "Son, take care
Don't let your dreams get too far out of sight"
He said, "I love you, now don't worry about me
You know I'll be fine"
[Chorus]
I'm not trying to be somebody else
(Don't you know me I won't ever let you,
I won't ever let you down)
What they say
What they know
What they think
Won't ever bring me down
This life is mine
And I am my own
I'm trying to be somebody
I'm not trying to be somebody else
This life is mine I lead
Don't you know me?
[Chorus]
I'm not trying to be somebody else
Don't you know me, I won't ever let you down
Oh Lord, I won't be nobody else
This life is mine
And I am my own
Lyrics submitted by mjmacdon, edited by jayellen10
Be Somebody Lyrics as written by Christopher Lee Henderson Bradley Kirk Arnold
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I seem to have understood this differently from everyone else. This boy has ambitions, but goes out with his friends every night. His mom tells him to be careful that he doesn't blow off his dreams and he basically tells her not to worry, it's his life and he'll get it together.