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.
Beat me up
Beat me down
Mess me up
Beyond all recognition
For what it's worth
I'd do it again
With no consequence
I will do it again
Hard up, so hunt me down, down, down
Jump the gun bust a cap in your crown
Yo yo yo, word
My tendency's never returned
Received like a big fat jerk
I been silly, but not absurd
'cause you know that's what I heard
Tell ya thoughts that's mostly pure
So everything's splended, sure
I just there to in-jure
On the fence
The consequence
What do they know
About that
On the track
Ahead in the back
What do they know
About that
I'm quite depressed
I'm quite a mess
Beat me up
Beat me down
Mess me up
Beyond all recognition
For what it's worth
I'd do it again
With no consequence
I will do it again
Hard up, so hunt me down, down, down
Jump the gun bust a cap hit the ground
Yo yo yo, word
My tendency's never returned
Received like a big fat jerk
I been silly, but not absurd
'cause you know that's what I heard
Tell ya thoughts that's mostly pure
So everything's splended, sure
I just there to in-jure
On the fence
The consequence
What do they know
About that
On the track
Ahead of the pack
What do they know
About that
I'm quite depressed
I'm quite a mess
Hey, someone to stab in the back
Hey, someone to fall through the crack
Hey, someone to punch in the face
Hey, someone to fall through the crack
Written all over my face
Written all over my face
Yo yo yo, word
My tendency's never returned
Received like a big fat jerk
I been silly, but not absurd
'Cause you know that's what I heard
Tell ya thoughts that's mostly pure
So everything's splended, sure
I just there to in-jure
On the fence
The consequence
What do they know
About that
On the track
Ahead in the back
What do they know
About that
I'm quite depressed
I'm quite a mess
Beat me down
Mess me up
Beyond all recognition
For what it's worth
I'd do it again
With no consequence
I will do it again
Hard up, so hunt me down, down, down
Jump the gun bust a cap in your crown
Yo yo yo, word
My tendency's never returned
Received like a big fat jerk
I been silly, but not absurd
'cause you know that's what I heard
Tell ya thoughts that's mostly pure
So everything's splended, sure
I just there to in-jure
On the fence
The consequence
What do they know
About that
On the track
Ahead in the back
What do they know
About that
I'm quite depressed
I'm quite a mess
Beat me up
Beat me down
Mess me up
Beyond all recognition
For what it's worth
I'd do it again
With no consequence
I will do it again
Hard up, so hunt me down, down, down
Jump the gun bust a cap hit the ground
Yo yo yo, word
My tendency's never returned
Received like a big fat jerk
I been silly, but not absurd
'cause you know that's what I heard
Tell ya thoughts that's mostly pure
So everything's splended, sure
I just there to in-jure
On the fence
The consequence
What do they know
About that
On the track
Ahead of the pack
What do they know
About that
I'm quite depressed
I'm quite a mess
Hey, someone to stab in the back
Hey, someone to fall through the crack
Hey, someone to punch in the face
Hey, someone to fall through the crack
Written all over my face
Written all over my face
Yo yo yo, word
My tendency's never returned
Received like a big fat jerk
I been silly, but not absurd
'Cause you know that's what I heard
Tell ya thoughts that's mostly pure
So everything's splended, sure
I just there to in-jure
On the fence
The consequence
What do they know
About that
On the track
Ahead in the back
What do they know
About that
I'm quite depressed
I'm quite a mess
Lyrics submitted by Pogo-The-Clown
What Do They Know? Lyrics as written by Steve Mac Jimmy Mccarthy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I'm pretty sure it's:
My dignity never returned
Recieved like a big fat jerk I been silly, but not absurd
Criminal that's what I heard
Fits in a lot better with the theme of the song, losing dignity and criminality.