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.
Take me to a hotel room
And tie me to the bed on my mistakes
Kiss me like I paid for this
Please don't stop 'til you take all my faith
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
'Cause I feel a little sick
I'm sorry I forgot your name
But this is the first time I've played this game
I know I made a big mistake
I'm paying you to suck out all my faith
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
'Cause I feel a little sick
She's grace, come and get some of this
She's grace, come and get some of this
She's grace, come and get some of this
She's grace, come and get some of this
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
And the white coats, they just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
'Cause I feel a little sick
She's grace
She's grace
She's grace
She's grace
And tie me to the bed on my mistakes
Kiss me like I paid for this
Please don't stop 'til you take all my faith
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
'Cause I feel a little sick
I'm sorry I forgot your name
But this is the first time I've played this game
I know I made a big mistake
I'm paying you to suck out all my faith
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
'Cause I feel a little sick
She's grace, come and get some of this
She's grace, come and get some of this
She's grace, come and get some of this
She's grace, come and get some of this
And the white coats just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
And the white coats, they just don't get it
I'm a genius with a headache
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
Am I a little sick or a little sane?
'Cause I feel a little sick
She's grace
She's grace
She's grace
She's grace
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!
It's about feeling sick and paying a prostitute to "heal" him sexually(first verse gives this away). The "white coats" are the doctors and authorities who don't understand why he is paying a prostitute, going back to how society generally views men who pay prostitutes for sex as "sick lowlife scum". "I'm a genius with a headache" is him saying that he's not a piece of scum, he's a productive person who just needs a break.