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.
For your pleasure
In our present state
Part false part true
Like anything
We present ourselves
The words we use tumble
All over your shoulder
Gravel hard and loose
There all night lying
With your dark horse hiding
Abhorring such extremes
You're rubbing shoulders
With the stars at night
Shining so bright
Getting older
But you'll wake up soon
And fight
In the morning
Things you worried about
Last night
Will seem lighter
I hope things
Will turn out right
Old man
Through every step a change
You watch me walk away
Tara Tara
In our present state
Part false part true
Like anything
We present ourselves
The words we use tumble
All over your shoulder
Gravel hard and loose
There all night lying
With your dark horse hiding
Abhorring such extremes
You're rubbing shoulders
With the stars at night
Shining so bright
Getting older
But you'll wake up soon
And fight
In the morning
Things you worried about
Last night
Will seem lighter
I hope things
Will turn out right
Old man
Through every step a change
You watch me walk away
Tara Tara
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He certainly did earn that reputation.
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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?
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Roxy Music, introducing themselves at last at the very end of their second album. The lyrics seem to be at once a premonition and flashback of moments and highlights of their (or Ferry's) life. Crafting their art, schmoozing at country estates with the stars even into their elderly years. Part false part true / dark horse hiding Ferry acknowledging his humble Novocastrian roots whilst hob nobbing with the glitterati of the day.
'The words we use tumble over your shoulder' sounds like an intimate 'sweet nothing' shared with their fans but it actually hides a harsher comment: you don't really get us or know what we are saying, or 'it goes over your head'. The final section after 'Ta-ra.... ta-ra', is a lost bit of theatre or drama that practically all fans will miss. Eno creates tape snippets of Ferry singing repeated lyrics from Chance Meeting (on the previous album) 'well how, well how?' from the line Well how are you how have you been? A voice answers 'You don't ... you don't ask why'. How being the lesser question and why being the real issue. Imagine a fan asking Eno a techie 'How do you get that sound?' whereas Why do you...? would be the more interesting question to ask him.
The woman's voice is Judi Dench, uncredited on the album. Her daughter, born around the time the album was being recorded, was (is) called Tara and so Ferry 's 'ta-ra' is actually him saying hello to her as well as goodbye at the end of his life.
@Falsedog Thank you very much for the precious info and observations! I hadn't noticed the voices at end.