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.
There's no end to the love you can give
When you change your point of view to underfoot
Very good
You may be flat but you're breathing
And there's no doubt he's at home in his room
Probably watching porn of you from the fall
It's last call
And you're the last one leaving
And you thought you could change the world
By opening your legs
Well it isn't very hard
Try kicking them instead
And you thought you could change his mind
By changing your perfume to the kind his mother wore
O god Delilah why?
I never met a more impossible girl
In this same bar where you slammed down your hand
And said "Amanda, I'm in love"
No you're not
You're just a sucker for the ones who use you
And it doesn't matter what I say or do
The stupid bastard's gonna have his way with you
You're an unrescuable schizo
Or else you're on the rag
If you take him back
I'm gonna lose my nerve
I never met a more impossible girl
I never met a more impossible girl
At four o'clock he got off
And you called up
"I'm down at Denny's on route one
And you won't guess what he's done"
Is that a fact Delilah?
Larry tap let you in through the back
And use his calling card again
For a quick hand of gin
You are impossible, Delilah: the princess of denial
And after 7 years in advertising you are none the wiser
You're an unrescuable schizo
Or else you're on the rag
'Cause if you take him back
I'm gonna lose my nerve
He's gonna beat you like a pillow
You schizos never learn
And if you take him home
You'll get what you deserve
So don't cry Delilah
You're still alive Delilah
You need a ride Delilah?
Let's see how fast this thing can go
When you change your point of view to underfoot
Very good
You may be flat but you're breathing
And there's no doubt he's at home in his room
Probably watching porn of you from the fall
It's last call
And you're the last one leaving
And you thought you could change the world
By opening your legs
Well it isn't very hard
Try kicking them instead
And you thought you could change his mind
By changing your perfume to the kind his mother wore
O god Delilah why?
I never met a more impossible girl
In this same bar where you slammed down your hand
And said "Amanda, I'm in love"
No you're not
You're just a sucker for the ones who use you
And it doesn't matter what I say or do
The stupid bastard's gonna have his way with you
You're an unrescuable schizo
Or else you're on the rag
If you take him back
I'm gonna lose my nerve
I never met a more impossible girl
I never met a more impossible girl
At four o'clock he got off
And you called up
"I'm down at Denny's on route one
And you won't guess what he's done"
Is that a fact Delilah?
Larry tap let you in through the back
And use his calling card again
For a quick hand of gin
You are impossible, Delilah: the princess of denial
And after 7 years in advertising you are none the wiser
You're an unrescuable schizo
Or else you're on the rag
'Cause if you take him back
I'm gonna lose my nerve
He's gonna beat you like a pillow
You schizos never learn
And if you take him home
You'll get what you deserve
So don't cry Delilah
You're still alive Delilah
You need a ride Delilah?
Let's see how fast this thing can go
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Well, stepping out of the box, I think Delilah IS Amanda. And the keyword to that is Schizo.
Think about it, Amanda is trying to convince a part of herself, the weaker part "Delilah," that she has to leave the relationship/s that she's in. Amanda is the part of her that knows it's wrong and that she has to get away, while Delilah is the part of her that submits to it all. The whole song is like a war with herself about the relationship/s she's in. And in the end Amanda wins.
Schizos can see people and/or hear people that aren't really there, so...that's my take from the song.