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.
You, the hero
So many times
You've loved
And didn't linger
Now my finger
Points at you
Another loser
You, an island
On your own
Complete
In every detail
Monumental
A precious jewel
Or just a fool
Innovator
It's in your mind
And blood
I watch it simmer
I see you're courting
More despair
No hope?
Not a glimmer
Now you're nothing
But second hand
In glove
With second rate now
Now you're flirting
With heroin
Or is it cocaine?
Casanova
Is that your name
Or do you live there?
I know my place
Is here with you
Tonight
But not together
So many times
You've loved
And didn't linger
Now my finger
Points at you
Another loser
You, an island
On your own
Complete
In every detail
Monumental
A precious jewel
Or just a fool
Innovator
It's in your mind
And blood
I watch it simmer
I see you're courting
More despair
No hope?
Not a glimmer
Now you're nothing
But second hand
In glove
With second rate now
Now you're flirting
With heroin
Or is it cocaine?
Casanova
Is that your name
Or do you live there?
I know my place
Is here with you
Tonight
But not together
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More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
The Spy
Doors, The
Doors, The
Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Bryan Ferry's curt rejoinder to Eno's 'Dead Finks Don't Talk' song - a dig at Ferry that had appeared earlier in the year on Here Come the Warm Jets. This was Eno's first release since leaving Roxy Music and the album featured all the members of Roxy bar Ferry. Casanova more obviously refers to Eno's reputation as a philanderer but could also refer to Eno's 'new home' away from Roxy...Casanova literally means 'new house' and Ferry refers to this dual meaning at the end of the song.
‘Now my finger Points at you’… perceptive Ferry shows he recognised the origin of Eno’s song title as being with William Burroughs’ ‘Dead Fingers Talk’...the ‘dying fiction’ of Eno’s song.
‘You, an island On your own’… Ferry referencing Eno’s solo career on the Island label. This might also explain why Ferry ends the song by singing 'my place is here with you [ie on Island] but not together.'
To ‘More fool me bless my soul’ Ferry responds: ‘A precious jewel Or just a fool’, perhaps questioning how a headless chicken could peck its way anywhere.
‘Innovator It's in your mind’… there could surely be no greater insult to Eno! ‘Second hand, second rate.’
‘You, the hero / Now you're flirting With heroin’ is a response to Eno’s own drug-speak references in ‘Dead Finks’
‘I failed both tests / In my place the stuff is all there’ ‘My my they wanted the works’.
The tit-for-tat retaliation would continue with the instrumental 'Sultanesque' (or 'Insultanesque'?) on the B side of 1975's Love is the Drug, sounding (convincingly) like a Fripp and Eno composition, countered with Eno's 1976 ambient soundtrack to the short film 'Music for Ferry Terminals'.