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.
Bombs are dropping, smoke fills the air
I wanna duck and cover but I've gotta stay out here
Cause I know myself and if I hole up in my room
I'll be consumed by the doom and the gloom
So I call John cause I know he knows sorrow
He says "I'll be in the city tomorrow"
So I go down and I watch him sing
And the way he sings sends a chill right through me
Yeah, and now there's a mountain goat
Precariously balanced on the frog stuck in my throat
It says "Sometimes whispering's ok
But maybe you'd feel better if you screamed today"
The lady took the baby I know she loves the baby
But the baby has a daddy and and his daddy loves him, too
How could she take the baby, maybe she's gone crazy
She won't share, it's not fair, there's nothing I can do
The lady took the baby I know she loves the baby
But the baby has a daddy and and his daddy loves him, too
How could she take the baby, maybe she's gone crazy
She won't share, it's not fair, there's nothing I can do
Tuesday night grandma curled up in my bed
By wednesday morning, my grandma was dead
I was in Charlotte, I took the bus home
Her shoes, watch and teeth were still in my room
And as I lay me down to sleep, I felt her spirit rise up through me
She said "I got to live a long 86 years, dry your tears
I know it's hard but please let go so I can meet your grandpa in the undertow
Chin up, girl, you've gotta be strong and know when you're singing I'm singing along"
The lady took the baby I know she loves the baby
But the baby has a daddy and and his daddy loves him, too
How could she take the baby, maybe she's gone crazy
She won't share, it's not fair, there's nothing I can do
The lady took the baby I know she loves the baby
But the baby has a daddy and and his daddy loves him, too
How could she take the baby, maybe she's gone crazy
She won't share, it's not fair, there's nothing I can do
Little bitty baby, so far away, we hope that you can come home soon
When we're not together, now or ever, always remember I love you
Little bitty baby, so far away, we hope that you can come home soon
When we're not together, now or ever, always remember I love you
I wanna duck and cover but I've gotta stay out here
Cause I know myself and if I hole up in my room
I'll be consumed by the doom and the gloom
So I call John cause I know he knows sorrow
He says "I'll be in the city tomorrow"
So I go down and I watch him sing
And the way he sings sends a chill right through me
Yeah, and now there's a mountain goat
Precariously balanced on the frog stuck in my throat
It says "Sometimes whispering's ok
But maybe you'd feel better if you screamed today"
The lady took the baby I know she loves the baby
But the baby has a daddy and and his daddy loves him, too
How could she take the baby, maybe she's gone crazy
She won't share, it's not fair, there's nothing I can do
The lady took the baby I know she loves the baby
But the baby has a daddy and and his daddy loves him, too
How could she take the baby, maybe she's gone crazy
She won't share, it's not fair, there's nothing I can do
Tuesday night grandma curled up in my bed
By wednesday morning, my grandma was dead
I was in Charlotte, I took the bus home
Her shoes, watch and teeth were still in my room
And as I lay me down to sleep, I felt her spirit rise up through me
She said "I got to live a long 86 years, dry your tears
I know it's hard but please let go so I can meet your grandpa in the undertow
Chin up, girl, you've gotta be strong and know when you're singing I'm singing along"
The lady took the baby I know she loves the baby
But the baby has a daddy and and his daddy loves him, too
How could she take the baby, maybe she's gone crazy
She won't share, it's not fair, there's nothing I can do
The lady took the baby I know she loves the baby
But the baby has a daddy and and his daddy loves him, too
How could she take the baby, maybe she's gone crazy
She won't share, it's not fair, there's nothing I can do
Little bitty baby, so far away, we hope that you can come home soon
When we're not together, now or ever, always remember I love you
Little bitty baby, so far away, we hope that you can come home soon
When we're not together, now or ever, always remember I love you
Lyrics submitted by skyphilis
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