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 know your French well
Didn't take any decision so far
Hit me like a freight train
Please consider my request
You do expect a messiah
You want to be European
I would be your Bonaparte
Don't ever care 'bout what napoleon says
Look out look at look at me
Calm down calm down I said to myself
This time look at what you look like you know it suits you well
Napoleon says to take off your coat
Take off your long johns too
Napoleon says to take off your coat
Take off your long johns too
Look out look at look at me
Calm down calm down I said to myself
This time look at what you look like you know it suits you well
Right hand in a trench coat
Right hand in a trench coat
Napoleon says to come over here
Bring back your long johns too
Napoleon says to come over here
Bring back your long johns too
Look out look at look at me
Calm down calm down I said to myself
This time look at what you look like you know it suits you well
Right hand in a trench coat
Right hand in a trench coat
Look out look out look out
Don't get yourself excited
Calm down calm down calm down
Go get yourself a white horse
Right hand in a trench coat
Right hand in a trench coat
Didn't take any decision so far
Hit me like a freight train
Please consider my request
You do expect a messiah
You want to be European
I would be your Bonaparte
Don't ever care 'bout what napoleon says
Look out look at look at me
Calm down calm down I said to myself
This time look at what you look like you know it suits you well
Napoleon says to take off your coat
Take off your long johns too
Napoleon says to take off your coat
Take off your long johns too
Look out look at look at me
Calm down calm down I said to myself
This time look at what you look like you know it suits you well
Right hand in a trench coat
Right hand in a trench coat
Napoleon says to come over here
Bring back your long johns too
Napoleon says to come over here
Bring back your long johns too
Look out look at look at me
Calm down calm down I said to myself
This time look at what you look like you know it suits you well
Right hand in a trench coat
Right hand in a trench coat
Look out look out look out
Don't get yourself excited
Calm down calm down calm down
Go get yourself a white horse
Right hand in a trench coat
Right hand in a trench coat
Lyrics submitted by fadingtrails
Napoleon Says Lyrics as written by Frederic Moulin Christian Mazzalai
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Aw man, I thought it was "Riding in a trench coat" and I thought that was awesome. Wish I could ride in a trench coat.
LOL
good song but honestly wtf is this about!?
it's about being Napoleon!! Sounds like being "like napoleon" for someone else. who loves the french and napoleon. maybe in halloween. trying to imitate him so hard keep reminding yourself "keep your hand in your trench coat, like he did!!"
It's a song about trying to impress someone so much you look ridiculous.
you want to know what it means?...
get up. and DANCE just like napoleon says ^~^ i can't help to tap my shoe, and if i got some drinks in me. fuck it. i'll get up and dance to it ^^
Does anyone else think this song sounds like "Bangin' on a Trash Can"?
This song is responsible for me buying all of Phoenix's records. I love the end.
I think it's them mocking a Francophile girlfriend, whilst also taking advantage of her thinking they're sexy because they're French.
Bingo. There is a girlfriend/sexual interest kind of person in the song: the person adressed is a foreigner who admires Europe, or more precisely, France; so, if she admires the French so much, the "lyrical me" (as one would say in Portuguese) would be her/his Napoleon.