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.
Deep down in the city 'neath the concrete trees
Some signifying hack is scratching backs for fleas
Putting on their bad mouths for poor little me
Spreading ugly lies like it's some horrible disease
He said that I said what I never did said
But I said that it's rare that it's over your head
Ask me a question, then print a lie
I cancelled all appointments having vowed that he will die
So I went to find the source of this malitious dirt
Having reread the words and wiped the blood from my shirt
When I found him he was sitting high up in a tree
With one bloody finger on a typewriter key
Sky is gray and the grass unseen
And you're the dumbest **** this city's ever seen
He was laughing, shaking, high up in a tree
But then he lost his balance and he fell down on his knees
So I leapt on that mother my anger to appease
When I grabbed him by the throat, he said "Oh spare me please"
Sure as gullible as my name I let him go back to the trees
And straight away the poisons flowing freely from the keys
The sky is grey and the grass unseen
And he's still the dumbest **** this concrete jungle's ever seen
That mother he was laughing, bathing in the heat
But then he slipped again and landed in the street
Deep down in the city 'neath the concrete trees
Nobody's seen that mother high in the fleas
But there's a new one in the obituaries
And it shows four stars where the name oughta be
Some signifying hack is scratching backs for fleas
Putting on their bad mouths for poor little me
Spreading ugly lies like it's some horrible disease
He said that I said what I never did said
But I said that it's rare that it's over your head
Ask me a question, then print a lie
I cancelled all appointments having vowed that he will die
So I went to find the source of this malitious dirt
Having reread the words and wiped the blood from my shirt
When I found him he was sitting high up in a tree
With one bloody finger on a typewriter key
Sky is gray and the grass unseen
And you're the dumbest **** this city's ever seen
He was laughing, shaking, high up in a tree
But then he lost his balance and he fell down on his knees
So I leapt on that mother my anger to appease
When I grabbed him by the throat, he said "Oh spare me please"
Sure as gullible as my name I let him go back to the trees
And straight away the poisons flowing freely from the keys
The sky is grey and the grass unseen
And he's still the dumbest **** this concrete jungle's ever seen
That mother he was laughing, bathing in the heat
But then he slipped again and landed in the street
Deep down in the city 'neath the concrete trees
Nobody's seen that mother high in the fleas
But there's a new one in the obituaries
And it shows four stars where the name oughta be
Lyrics submitted by Major Valor
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Jesse with the long hair....
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
Battle Royale
Word Alive, The
Word Alive, The
This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Some music critic gave him a bad review, perhaps?