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.
Well you've got me dancing in a figure of eight,
Don't know if I'm coming or going, I'm early or late.
Round and round the ring I go,
I want to know, I want to know,
Why can't we travel a continuous line?
Make love reliable covenant all the time.
Up and down the hills I go, I got to know, I got to know.
Is is better to love another
Than to go go for a walk in the dark?
Is it better to love than to give in to hate?
Yeah we'd better take good care of each other
Avoid slipping back off the straight and narrow,
It's better by far than getting stuck in a figure of eight.
Well figure it out for yourself little girl,
It don't go nowhere at all,
It's nothing more than a tape loop in a big dance hall.
You've got me running
You've got me running
Don't know if I'm coming or going, I'm early or late.
Round and round the ring I go,
I want to know, I want to know,
Why can't we travel a continuous line?
Make love reliable covenant all the time.
Up and down the hills I go, I got to know, I got to know.
Is is better to love another
Than to go go for a walk in the dark?
Is it better to love than to give in to hate?
Yeah we'd better take good care of each other
Avoid slipping back off the straight and narrow,
It's better by far than getting stuck in a figure of eight.
Well figure it out for yourself little girl,
It don't go nowhere at all,
It's nothing more than a tape loop in a big dance hall.
You've got me running
You've got me running
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
Figure of Eight Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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Paul's forty-third single. Credited to "Paul McCartney".
Here is where Paul really went to town, and I'm sure there was a certain mischievous bit of fun being had by Paul here at the fans expense ! ... a plethora of versions and "remixes" !!
"Figure of Eight" had appeared on "Flowers In The Dirt" five months earlier, but that version was the only one NOT to come out on these versions ! ... The initial 7" had a different version of the song (not just remixed) which was over 5 minutes long and re-recorded by Paul on 1st September 1989. The B-side "Ou Est Le Soleil?" was unreleased on vinyl from December 1987 although this released version was marked as mixed by top DJ remixer, Shep Pettibone.
The same day a CD single was released, this was an edited version of the A-side, and did NOT carry "Ou Est Le Soliel ?", instead coupling "Loveliest Thing" an unreleased track from June 1987, and the version of "Long And Winding Road" identified on Paul's previous release, "This One".
Their were even two versions of this CD released on the same day, one having a gatefold sleeve and numbered CDRS 6235.
Also the same day a 12" with the same "Figure Of Eight" A-side, but (bizarrely !), a "Club Lovejoys Mix" of "This One" running to over 6 minutes. This is the cover you can see at the top, above.
Next, one week later a 12" with the standard "Figure OF Eight", and the same original 7" mix of "Ou". This was numbered 12 RS 6235.
A further week on, and this time a 3" CD release, containing the usual two tracks, but this time adding "Rough Ride", which once again is a different version to that found on the album.
And finally one final 12" ... standard "Figure OF Eight", but an even longer Pettibone remix of "Ou" running at over 7 minutes, plus a "Tub Dub" mix of it at 4 and a half minutes (The other 12" pictured above).
Paul did produce a video clip for "Ou Est Le Soleil?" on July 14th 1989, but I don't recall there ever being a vid for the A-side.
The single was released in a picture sleeve.