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.
Well I'm a pig charmer, lie in filth getting off
I make my bed in a wallow, lackey, fill my trough
Digging through the garbage bubble fried a pork rind
I pick and save all my scabs to serve up dinner time
And I say welcome to my sty
Throw my shoe, turn the light out
Come on in, get high
Don't mind the piss-filled bottles
Hack and cough, I write
Peppered walls I spit out
And my future looks bright, swelter geek inside
Way past hilarious, Mr. Yuk Mouth I slay
It turns out he's a big pussy, Satan hoof had its way
Two months no shower, cigarette methane fog
And if you ever need it I gave mean horse hog
And I say welcome to my sty
Throw my shoe, turn the light out
Come on in, get high
Don't mind the piss-filled bottles
Hack and cough, I write
Peppered walls I spit out
And my future looks bright, pretty sure I'm gonna fry
This time I hope I'm wrong, not right
Man I don't really want to die
Pretty sure I'm gonna fry
And I don't really want to die
Pretty sure I'm gonna fry
And my future looks bright
Well I'm a pig charmer, lie in filth getting off
I make my bed in a wallow, lackey, fill my trough
Digging through the garbage bubble fried a pork rind
I pick and save all my scabs to serve up dinner time
And I say welcome to my sty
Throw my shoe, turn the light out
Come on in, get high
Don't mind the piss-filled bottles
Hack and cough, I write
Peppered walls I spit out
And my future looks bright, pretty sure I'm gonna fry
Man I don't really want to die
Pretty sure I'm gonna fry
Man I don't really want to die
Oh fuck I think I'm gonna fry
I really think I'm gonna fry
Really sure I'm gonna fry
Now I know I'm gonna fry
I make my bed in a wallow, lackey, fill my trough
Digging through the garbage bubble fried a pork rind
I pick and save all my scabs to serve up dinner time
And I say welcome to my sty
Throw my shoe, turn the light out
Come on in, get high
Don't mind the piss-filled bottles
Hack and cough, I write
Peppered walls I spit out
And my future looks bright, swelter geek inside
Way past hilarious, Mr. Yuk Mouth I slay
It turns out he's a big pussy, Satan hoof had its way
Two months no shower, cigarette methane fog
And if you ever need it I gave mean horse hog
And I say welcome to my sty
Throw my shoe, turn the light out
Come on in, get high
Don't mind the piss-filled bottles
Hack and cough, I write
Peppered walls I spit out
And my future looks bright, pretty sure I'm gonna fry
This time I hope I'm wrong, not right
Man I don't really want to die
Pretty sure I'm gonna fry
And I don't really want to die
Pretty sure I'm gonna fry
And my future looks bright
Well I'm a pig charmer, lie in filth getting off
I make my bed in a wallow, lackey, fill my trough
Digging through the garbage bubble fried a pork rind
I pick and save all my scabs to serve up dinner time
And I say welcome to my sty
Throw my shoe, turn the light out
Come on in, get high
Don't mind the piss-filled bottles
Hack and cough, I write
Peppered walls I spit out
And my future looks bright, pretty sure I'm gonna fry
Man I don't really want to die
Pretty sure I'm gonna fry
Man I don't really want to die
Oh fuck I think I'm gonna fry
I really think I'm gonna fry
Really sure I'm gonna fry
Now I know I'm gonna fry
Lyrics submitted by Hardcore_Icon
Pig Charmer Lyrics as written by Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I always assumed this song was about his visits with Layne Staley in his darkest days. But apparently Jerry has claimed that this song is about himself, in that he shut himself off from the world while writing this album, living in the way described above, in all its intensity.
That could very well be the case, but so many artists say misleading things about the songs they write, maybe some things are too personal in some cases. It's apparent that Layne was overwhelmingly on his mind as he wrote Degradation Trip, so I wouldn't be surprised if he started living like him in the depths of the writing process. In which case, the song is about them both, in a way.
@cataclysm0 You're twisting the song's meaning because of your own baseless assumption. This was written by Jerry, about himself.
@cataclysm0 nailed it. I think the last part of your point is probably on point 110%