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.
All alone not by myself
Another girl bad for my health
I've seen it all through someone else
And I
(Another girl bad for my health)
I celebrated but undisturbed
And serenaded by the terror bird
It's seldom seen and it's never heard, oh
(Serenaded by the terror bird)
Never in the wrong time or wrong place
Desecration is the smile on my face
The love I made is the shape of my space
My face, my face
Disintegrated by the rising sun
A rolling black out of oblivion
And I'd like to think that I'm your number one
I'm
(Rolling black out of oblivion)
I wanna leave but I just get stuck
A broken record runnin' low on luck
There's heavy metal coming from your truck
And I'm a
(Broken record runnin' low on luck)
Never in the wrong time or wrong place
Desecration is the smile on my face
The love I made is the shape of my space
My face my face
We could all go down to Malibu and make some noise
Coca Cola doesn't do the justice she enjoys
We could all come up with something new to be destroyed
We could all go down
I love the feeling when it falls apart
I'm slow to finish but I'm quick to start
And beneath the heather lies the meadowlark
And I'm
(Slow to finish but I'm quick to start)
Never in the wrong time or wrong place
Desecration is the smile on my face
The love I made is the shape of my space
My face, my face
Never in the wrong time or wrong place
Desecration is the smile on my face
The love I made is the shape of my space
My face, my face, hey
Another girl bad for my health
I've seen it all through someone else
And I
(Another girl bad for my health)
I celebrated but undisturbed
And serenaded by the terror bird
It's seldom seen and it's never heard, oh
(Serenaded by the terror bird)
Never in the wrong time or wrong place
Desecration is the smile on my face
The love I made is the shape of my space
My face, my face
Disintegrated by the rising sun
A rolling black out of oblivion
And I'd like to think that I'm your number one
I'm
(Rolling black out of oblivion)
I wanna leave but I just get stuck
A broken record runnin' low on luck
There's heavy metal coming from your truck
And I'm a
(Broken record runnin' low on luck)
Never in the wrong time or wrong place
Desecration is the smile on my face
The love I made is the shape of my space
My face my face
We could all go down to Malibu and make some noise
Coca Cola doesn't do the justice she enjoys
We could all come up with something new to be destroyed
We could all go down
I love the feeling when it falls apart
I'm slow to finish but I'm quick to start
And beneath the heather lies the meadowlark
And I'm
(Slow to finish but I'm quick to start)
Never in the wrong time or wrong place
Desecration is the smile on my face
The love I made is the shape of my space
My face, my face
Never in the wrong time or wrong place
Desecration is the smile on my face
The love I made is the shape of my space
My face, my face, hey
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
How is there only three comments for this song?
I love this song, it's great.