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.
Soaking through
Colours that hold us up against the wall
Soaking through
Colours that hold us up against the wall
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
(Twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
Soaking through
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall
Soaking through
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
(I twisted the knife and)
Ah, she looked into your eyes
And saw what laid beneath
Don't try to save yourself
The circle is complete
We're reaching out and to tell you
Nothing else can touch me
Soaking through
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall
Soaking through
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
Ah, she looked into your eyes
And saw what laid beneath
Don't try to save yourself
The circle is complete
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
(I twisted the knife and)
Fading gently
Soaking through
And starting not to show at all
We're reaching out and to take you
Nothing else can touch me
Soaking through
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall
Soaking through
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall, rinse me (I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
Colours that hold us up against the wall
Soaking through
Colours that hold us up against the wall
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
(Twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
Soaking through
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall
Soaking through
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
(I twisted the knife and)
Ah, she looked into your eyes
And saw what laid beneath
Don't try to save yourself
The circle is complete
We're reaching out and to tell you
Nothing else can touch me
Soaking through
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall
Soaking through
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
Ah, she looked into your eyes
And saw what laid beneath
Don't try to save yourself
The circle is complete
(I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
(I twisted the knife and)
Fading gently
Soaking through
And starting not to show at all
We're reaching out and to take you
Nothing else can touch me
Soaking through
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall
Soaking through
Hold your colours against the wall
When they take everything away
Hold your colours against the wall, rinse me (I twisted the knife and opened your eyes)
Lyrics submitted by smooth_ann
Hold Your Colour Lyrics as written by Robert Swire Thompson
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Battle Royale
Word Alive, The
Word Alive, The
This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
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.
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.
The meaning is pretty simple for me. its about how fast the time goes, and here's some arguments:
Not everything matches but, i find these pretty significant to "my" meaning