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.
Oh now go get your guns
We’ll all fight like cowboys and pray like nuns
Then we'll dance around the open flames
If it gets too hot, well we have no shame, no shame
And you say we talk too much
Cause nothing changes, nothing changes, oh
So we don’t talk enough
Cause nothing changes, nothing changes
And no, oh oh, oh oh.
And no no, so we’re here
Sound the alarms
Throw up your arms
We’ve brought the entire army and we’re starving
So don’t try anything smart
There’s plenty of ammunition
And we’ve got our guard
Look now, he’s on the run
Well I’m glad he tried, it’s much more fun
If we chase him till the sun goes down
We can take him out with no one else around.
No one else around, no one else around, no oh
And no no, so we’re here
Sound the alarms
Throw up your arms
We’ve brought the entire army and we’re starving
So don’t try anything smart
There’s plenty of ammunition
And we’ve got our guard
Stick around, I’ve got a hunch
We'll bomb this town and stop for lunch
And never, never mind those awful cries
You know, it’s not as real if you don’t look in their eyes
Don’t look in their eyes
Don’t look in their eyes, oh no
Oh no no
And no no, so we’re here
Sound the alarms
Throw up your arms
We’ve brought the entire army and we’re starving
So don’t try anything smart
There’s plenty of ammunition
And we’ve got our guard
Don’t look in their eyes
Don’t look in their eyes, oh no
Don’t look in their eyes
Don’t look in their eyes, oh no
We’ll all fight like cowboys and pray like nuns
Then we'll dance around the open flames
If it gets too hot, well we have no shame, no shame
And you say we talk too much
Cause nothing changes, nothing changes, oh
So we don’t talk enough
Cause nothing changes, nothing changes
And no, oh oh, oh oh.
And no no, so we’re here
Sound the alarms
Throw up your arms
We’ve brought the entire army and we’re starving
So don’t try anything smart
There’s plenty of ammunition
And we’ve got our guard
Look now, he’s on the run
Well I’m glad he tried, it’s much more fun
If we chase him till the sun goes down
We can take him out with no one else around.
No one else around, no one else around, no oh
And no no, so we’re here
Sound the alarms
Throw up your arms
We’ve brought the entire army and we’re starving
So don’t try anything smart
There’s plenty of ammunition
And we’ve got our guard
Stick around, I’ve got a hunch
We'll bomb this town and stop for lunch
And never, never mind those awful cries
You know, it’s not as real if you don’t look in their eyes
Don’t look in their eyes
Don’t look in their eyes, oh no
Oh no no
And no no, so we’re here
Sound the alarms
Throw up your arms
We’ve brought the entire army and we’re starving
So don’t try anything smart
There’s plenty of ammunition
And we’ve got our guard
Don’t look in their eyes
Don’t look in their eyes, oh no
Don’t look in their eyes
Don’t look in their eyes, oh no
Lyrics submitted by Lighthouse, edited by meatslinger
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really? sounds more like a regular war to me.
First verse to me is: oh no a problem/dispute is starting. We're gonna fight and we're gonna win cuz god/the gods are on our side. We'll celebrate when we literally/metaphorically burn down/destroy/change the enemy's homes/beliefs/way of life. Don't feel bad or ashamed cuz they are the enemy and god/the gods are on our side
Next: Not sure exactly, I'm guessing they're saying that talk leads to nothing, so instead we'll fight for change when what we actaully need to do is talk more/smarter/logically/rationally
Chorus: We conquered you and we're "starving" for whatever we invaded you for and we're taking it. You try anything to stop us aka anything "smart" and we'll either throw you in jail or kill you
2nd verse: An escaped prisoner or rebel or sumthin like that is on the run. I like violence and war, and I like it more when we get to hunt them down. If we end up catching them sumwhere remote and/or dark we may be able to use that as a chance to "have fun" with them or frame them, cuz killing and violence is great, especially when no one else sees it and think of us as evil
3rd verse: I have a hunch that this place has sumthin we need/desire/need to stop. We'll take their other stuff while we're at it. (Reference to Iraq War and oil?) Dunt worry about the enemy's suffering. Remember, they're all evil heathens/heretics, every single one of them. They're not people, at least not as superior as we are. In fact, if we gave them a chance they'll probably eat our babies (or sumthin else that is horrible to make them look more evil and inhuman). Remember, don't look into their eyes, cuz I dunt want u to realize that they are a lot like us and are individually unique, cuz if u realize that then u might not be so eager to fight anymore.
So basically a war protest song. I'm guessing the music is all happy sounding and all cuz throughout history war was made to look good. Stuff like fight for the glory of your country, die as a warrior and you will go to Valhalla, where you get to fight more! Then like WWI: Oh the enemy is a pushover. We'll all go and beat them and win medals all before Christmas. Cowboys riding off into the sunset after they win (Sumthin they were trying to portray in the 1st verse?) You have the speeches and parades, the coverups of death and destruction, and the propoganda.
What are you all on drugs? XD Disagree completely. I don't know why everyone wants to tie this to specifics. I don't think that's what the song is about at all. The War in Iraq? What? It's about revolution. It's about doing awful things and trying to shake it off. It sounds happy because it's also about freedom and vindication and not giving a damn anymore. And it's about winning. I don't think it's sarcastic. I'd even go so far as to say it's sympathetic. It's trying to get into that certain someone's skin and live it vicariously. Nonjudgmentally. It's absolutely breathtaking, actually.
"'cause nothing changes nothing changes"
C'mon - we've all felt like that.
Amen to that. You speak my mind. :)
Kinda sounds like its about the end of the world, in an anarchy sorta way.
Kinda sounds like its about the end of the world, in an anarchy sorta way.
Nijello pretty much said everything i thought about this song
the whole thing is completely sarcastic, basically stating how idiotic war really is
total sarcasm, its great. setting the lyrics infront of happy music. peaceful music even. cootos to Stabilo
During the third verse, it sounds much more like, "So stick around, I've got a hunch. We'll bound this town and stop for lunch."
shrug
But this is a totally amazing song, and a great band.
You're onto the right path, omg, the lyrics are wrong... Instead of "We've got our Guard" it's "we've got a cause." and "Stick around, I’ve got a hunch, Found this town I’ll stop for lunch" is actually "Stick around, I’ve got a hunch, BOMB this town and we'll stop for lunch." Which is basically what everybody's saying only much more obvious. I mean, "bomb this town and stop for lunch?" only the truly evil would do such a thing. Clearly about Iraq/War in general.
I completely agree that not only is this song about war, it is specifically about the war in Iraq. "Fighting like cowboys and praying like nuns" is basically implying that although Americans (or people in general) believe in God, or a god, they worship the God while killing others, a double standard thst is so often associated with religion. Dancing around an open flame that was created by them, is simply refering to something they have created and have control over (ie. the war in Iraq), "If it gets too hot, we'll have no shame" is implying that even if it gets out of control they will not take the blame for it, or have shame. There are so many examples of metaphors refering to the Americans in Iraq, but basically the concept in the chorus: we're here, sound the alarms, throw up your arms, we've got the entire army, is make a big deal that we are here acting as the Good Guys. Bad guys beware, those that are innocent, we will save you. The mindset in this line is, again i agree, very scarcastic. The most important line, and the one that stands out the most to me is: never mind those awful cries, you know its not real if you don't look in their eyes. This is indicating that if you don't look in someones eyes, you don't see the emotion behind them, and as a result don't feel any emotion for what you are doing or causing. The American soldiers that have been accused of torturing the Iraqi citizens and prisoners have been doing just that. Not feeling any remorse due to the fact that since they did not see the pain/sadness/emotion in the prisoners eyes, it did not occur, or appeared as thought it was just a dream.
Well I think that you all have a point in different areas. I don't know why i get this feeling however that it is also somewhat of a love song. He is saying that people are talking about him and this girl speaking to much with each other, like there is something wrong with the fact that they are only friends and they talk so much. And then i think he is trying to say that they don't talk enough because she doesn't like him yet. Other parts of the song relate to a tough relationship also...one that feels as though someone feels something that another might not.