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.
stand here with the mountain in background
the copper mine up the hill from the town
sits asleep like a retiree
once used and now no use for
people used to work here
and mined their lives from this ground
crushed them in these machines
and forged them in the future
we just take pictures
of hearts that stopped beating
sometimes you're a tourist with a camera
stealing souls for scrapbooks
sometimes you've got a life back home
sometimes you're really alone, you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone, you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone
we go home, after fishin' all day
and get our hands dirty
getting the catch clean
and mike is in the kitchen
he's heating up the fry pan
and we're in the front yard
we're watching the sun fall
people used to live here
and lived their lives on this ground
raised them in these fields
and lost them in the future
and we just take pictures
of hearts that stopped beating
sometimes you're a tourist with a camera
stealing souls for scrapbooks
sometimes you've got a life back home
sometimes you're really alone, you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone, you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone
the copper mine up the hill from the town
sits asleep like a retiree
once used and now no use for
people used to work here
and mined their lives from this ground
crushed them in these machines
and forged them in the future
we just take pictures
of hearts that stopped beating
sometimes you're a tourist with a camera
stealing souls for scrapbooks
sometimes you've got a life back home
sometimes you're really alone, you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone, you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone
we go home, after fishin' all day
and get our hands dirty
getting the catch clean
and mike is in the kitchen
he's heating up the fry pan
and we're in the front yard
we're watching the sun fall
people used to live here
and lived their lives on this ground
raised them in these fields
and lost them in the future
and we just take pictures
of hearts that stopped beating
sometimes you're a tourist with a camera
stealing souls for scrapbooks
sometimes you've got a life back home
sometimes you're really alone, you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone, you're really alone
sometimes you're really alone
Lyrics submitted by .tami.
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!
This is my favorite Minus The Bear song. I love it so much, the lyrics are great, and so is the music.