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.
Here I am
Red high heels
Yellow dress
Perfect nails
Lips like velvet
Don’t you want me, baby?
I’ve been here and back again
It never answers anything
Where was I when they handed out the knowing you are loved?
Don’t it get lonely out there, little darling
Well come on home
I’ll be here with open arms
To hold you
When you arrive
I’ll be here with open arms
To show you
Where you belong
If you’re missing come on home
Been undone
I’ve seen it all
Still somehow I refuse to kick this carnivore to the wall
Traveled here a thousand years
It’s a wonder my heart stills heals and beats and feels
It does anything at all
Don’t it get lonely out there, little darling
Well come on home
I’ll be here with open arms
To hold you
When you arrive
I’ll be here with open arms
To show you
Where you belong
If you’re missing come on home
Don’t it get lonely out there, little darling
Well come on home
I’ll be here with open arms
To hold you
When you arrive
I’ll be here with open arms
To show you
Where you belong
If you’re missing come on home
Red high heels
Yellow dress
Perfect nails
Lips like velvet
Don’t you want me, baby?
I’ve been here and back again
It never answers anything
Where was I when they handed out the knowing you are loved?
Don’t it get lonely out there, little darling
Well come on home
I’ll be here with open arms
To hold you
When you arrive
I’ll be here with open arms
To show you
Where you belong
If you’re missing come on home
Been undone
I’ve seen it all
Still somehow I refuse to kick this carnivore to the wall
Traveled here a thousand years
It’s a wonder my heart stills heals and beats and feels
It does anything at all
Don’t it get lonely out there, little darling
Well come on home
I’ll be here with open arms
To hold you
When you arrive
I’ll be here with open arms
To show you
Where you belong
If you’re missing come on home
Don’t it get lonely out there, little darling
Well come on home
I’ll be here with open arms
To hold you
When you arrive
I’ll be here with open arms
To show you
Where you belong
If you’re missing come on home
Lyrics submitted by Joypiter
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!
When I met Joy after the Detroit OTH tour, we talked about some of her songs.
When I mentioned this one, she informed me she wrote it while filming the formal episode of OTH in 2x09. If you look at what Haley's wearing in the episode, this describes it perfectly: "Red high heels Yellow dress Perfect nails Lips like velvet"