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 you're magic he said
But don't let it all go to your head
'Cause I bet if you all had it all figured out
Then you'd never get out of bed
Well, no doubt
Of all the thing's that I've read what he wrote me
It's now sounding like the man I was hoping
To be
I keep on keeping it real
'Cause it keeps getting easier he'll see
He's the reason that I'm laughing
Even if there's no one else
He said, you've got to love yourself
You say, you shouldn't mumble when you speak
But keep your tongue up in your cheek
And if you stumble on to something better
Remember that it's humble that you seek
You got all the skill you need
Individuality
You got something
They call it gumption
They call it anything you want
Because when you play the fool now
You're only fooling everyone else
You're learning to love yourself
Yes you are, you are, yes you, you, you
And there's no price to pay, no, no
When you're givin' what you take
That's why it's easy to thank you
You, you
You, you, you
Let's say you take a break from our day
And gettin' back to the old garage
Because life's too short anyway
But at least it's better then average
As long as you got me
And I got yo, you know we'll got a lot to go around
I'll be your friend, your other brother
Another love to come and comfort you
And I'll keep reminding
If it's the only thing I ever do
I will always love you
You, you, you
You
(It's true my love, it's true, it's you I love, it's you I love, it's you, it's you I love)
(It's true my love, it's true, my love, it's true, it's you I love)
(It's you I love, it's you I love, it's you, it's you I love)
Oh, it's you I love
(It's you I love, it's you I love, it's you, it's you I love)
(It's true my love, it's true, my love, it's true, it's you I love)
(It's you I love, it's you I love, it's you, it's you I love) (it's you I love, I love, I love)
It's you I love, I love, I love
It's you I love, I love, I love
It's you I love, I love, I love
Climb up over the top
Survey the state of the soul
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying
Why not give it a shot?
Shake it, take control, inevitably wind up
Find out for yourself all the strengths you have inside still rising
Climb up over the top
Survey the state of the soul
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying
Why not give it a shot?
Shake it, take control, inevitably wind up
Find out for yourself all the strengths you have inside still rising
Climb up over the top
Survey the state of the soul
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying
(Why not give it a shot?) Oh, it's you I love
(Shake it, take control, inevitably wind up) Oh it's you I love
(Find out for yourself all the strengths you have inside still rising)
Climb up over the top
Survey the state of the soul
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying
Why not give it a shot?
Shake it, take control and inevitably wind up
And find out for yourself all the strengths that you have inside of you
But don't let it all go to your head
'Cause I bet if you all had it all figured out
Then you'd never get out of bed
Well, no doubt
Of all the thing's that I've read what he wrote me
It's now sounding like the man I was hoping
To be
I keep on keeping it real
'Cause it keeps getting easier he'll see
He's the reason that I'm laughing
Even if there's no one else
He said, you've got to love yourself
You say, you shouldn't mumble when you speak
But keep your tongue up in your cheek
And if you stumble on to something better
Remember that it's humble that you seek
You got all the skill you need
Individuality
You got something
They call it gumption
They call it anything you want
Because when you play the fool now
You're only fooling everyone else
You're learning to love yourself
Yes you are, you are, yes you, you, you
And there's no price to pay, no, no
When you're givin' what you take
That's why it's easy to thank you
You, you
You, you, you
Let's say you take a break from our day
And gettin' back to the old garage
Because life's too short anyway
But at least it's better then average
As long as you got me
And I got yo, you know we'll got a lot to go around
I'll be your friend, your other brother
Another love to come and comfort you
And I'll keep reminding
If it's the only thing I ever do
I will always love you
You, you, you
You
(It's true my love, it's true, it's you I love, it's you I love, it's you, it's you I love)
(It's true my love, it's true, my love, it's true, it's you I love)
(It's you I love, it's you I love, it's you, it's you I love)
Oh, it's you I love
(It's you I love, it's you I love, it's you, it's you I love)
(It's true my love, it's true, my love, it's true, it's you I love)
(It's you I love, it's you I love, it's you, it's you I love) (it's you I love, I love, I love)
It's you I love, I love, I love
It's you I love, I love, I love
It's you I love, I love, I love
Climb up over the top
Survey the state of the soul
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying
Why not give it a shot?
Shake it, take control, inevitably wind up
Find out for yourself all the strengths you have inside still rising
Climb up over the top
Survey the state of the soul
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying
Why not give it a shot?
Shake it, take control, inevitably wind up
Find out for yourself all the strengths you have inside still rising
Climb up over the top
Survey the state of the soul
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying
(Why not give it a shot?) Oh, it's you I love
(Shake it, take control, inevitably wind up) Oh it's you I love
(Find out for yourself all the strengths you have inside still rising)
Climb up over the top
Survey the state of the soul
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying
Why not give it a shot?
Shake it, take control and inevitably wind up
And find out for yourself all the strengths that you have inside of you
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!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Step
Ministry
Ministry
Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Fortnight
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
The song 'Fortnight' by Taylor Swift and Post Malone tells a story about strong feelings, complicated relationships, and secret wishes. It talks about love, betrayal, and wanting someone who doesn't feel the same. The word 'fortnight' shows short-lived happiness and guilty pleasures, leading to sadness. It shows how messy relationships can be and the results of hiding emotions. “I was supposed to be sent away / But they forgot to come and get me,” she kickstarts the song in the first verse with lines suggesting an admission to a hospital for people with mental illnesses. She goes in the verse admitting her lover is the reason why she is like this. In the chorus, she sings about their time in love and reflects on how he has now settled with someone else. “I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary / And I love you, it’s ruining my life,” on the second verse she details her struggles to forget about him and the negative effects of her failure. “Thought of callin’ ya, but you won’t pick up / ‘Nother fortnight lost in America,” Post Malone sings in the outro.
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
In a Dec 8th 05 interview with The Virginian-Pilot Jason responed this way to the song:
" Q. Are you aware you have a massive gay following?
A. I did have an idea, and I dig that. A lot of my friends are gay – my roommate, my manager. The last song on my album, “Song for a Friend,” was written for my roommate, Jerry. I felt it might be a great idea. … There’s always love songs for women, but there should also be a love song for two bros, whether or not you’re gay. I’ve always tried to be open to all things. So it doesn’t surprise me that the gay community digs the mu-sac , ’cause I am friends with the gay community. "
...and yes I am a big fan of the man!