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.
here we are back to play the same old games
as if things never changed
the blood still tastes the same
ash to ash, back to back, and dusk to dusk
you look so upper-crust
so rich with broken trust
can you hear your conscience's crying
wash the fields of dead and dieing
ex-acquaintances
jogging over skulls and leg bones
drown the crunch out with your headphones
if you're so rich then pay for what you've done
under the influence
under the influence
keep me off the road when you're around me
under the influence
under the influence
my love, you make me sick
there you are a tool of their firmiliar game
your lies still smell the same
your kind are still to blame
upper class
this machine you built to last
you'd better spend it fast
i'm about to break the spell you cast
i'll bury you next to your ego
and mark the grave to burn when we go
up in flames again
now i'm not afraid to kill this
you are but a fleeting illness
the emptier, the easier to break
let the clock spin sweetly on it's way
and your face will blur and fade away
wash your hands, they reek of what you've done
just a fraud, just having fun
under the influence
under the influence
keep me off the road when you're around me
under the influence
so insignificant
my love you make me
oh, now dance for me you fucking puppet
as if things never changed
the blood still tastes the same
ash to ash, back to back, and dusk to dusk
you look so upper-crust
so rich with broken trust
can you hear your conscience's crying
wash the fields of dead and dieing
ex-acquaintances
jogging over skulls and leg bones
drown the crunch out with your headphones
if you're so rich then pay for what you've done
under the influence
under the influence
keep me off the road when you're around me
under the influence
under the influence
my love, you make me sick
there you are a tool of their firmiliar game
your lies still smell the same
your kind are still to blame
upper class
this machine you built to last
you'd better spend it fast
i'm about to break the spell you cast
i'll bury you next to your ego
and mark the grave to burn when we go
up in flames again
now i'm not afraid to kill this
you are but a fleeting illness
the emptier, the easier to break
let the clock spin sweetly on it's way
and your face will blur and fade away
wash your hands, they reek of what you've done
just a fraud, just having fun
under the influence
under the influence
keep me off the road when you're around me
under the influence
so insignificant
my love you make me
oh, now dance for me you fucking puppet
Lyrics submitted by KK61034
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
I see it as being about going back to somebody you know is bad for you. They're controlling, arrogant, self-centered, and just a bad person. And therefore being with them is like you're "under the influence" because they're not good for you.
Such a kick-ass song though.