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 go down the pub
You wear make up
And old dads trousers
Why don't you tidy up
You talk like a docker but you act like a queer
You drink champagne then complain it's too dear
You try so hard not to follow any trends
Then you cry in your beer and say you've got no friends
But is it any wonder that you've got no friends
But it's not the make up
Or the way you dress
It's not your appearance, that they all detest
It's not your manners, that you gotta improve
Ooooo-it's your attitude.
[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Take off your head phones
Hear what's going on
You can't live in a time zone
You've gotta move on
But before you get there
There's one thing you've gotta do
Oh change your attitude
It's your attitude
It's your attitude
[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
The '80s are here, I know 'cause I'm staring right at them
But you're still waiting for 1960 to happen
You might have the illness, but you've got the cure
You've got the answer, you will endure
You're the only person that's gonna pull you through
Ooh, with your attitude
[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
You gotta learn to be positive, it's your only chance
You mustn't be so defensive, you gotta join in the dance
But it isn't your dancing that you've gotta improve
Ooh, it's your attitude.
[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
It's all the music
It's all in your brain
You've used all the old licks
Now it's all gotta change.
Change your attitude
It's your attitude
Attitude
You wear make up
And old dads trousers
Why don't you tidy up
You talk like a docker but you act like a queer
You drink champagne then complain it's too dear
You try so hard not to follow any trends
Then you cry in your beer and say you've got no friends
But is it any wonder that you've got no friends
But it's not the make up
Or the way you dress
It's not your appearance, that they all detest
It's not your manners, that you gotta improve
Ooooo-it's your attitude.
[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Take off your head phones
Hear what's going on
You can't live in a time zone
You've gotta move on
But before you get there
There's one thing you've gotta do
Oh change your attitude
It's your attitude
It's your attitude
[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
The '80s are here, I know 'cause I'm staring right at them
But you're still waiting for 1960 to happen
You might have the illness, but you've got the cure
You've got the answer, you will endure
You're the only person that's gonna pull you through
Ooh, with your attitude
[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
You gotta learn to be positive, it's your only chance
You mustn't be so defensive, you gotta join in the dance
But it isn't your dancing that you've gotta improve
Ooh, it's your attitude.
[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
It's all the music
It's all in your brain
You've used all the old licks
Now it's all gotta change.
Change your attitude
It's your attitude
Attitude
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Advice to stop moping and being surly. Yeah, people out there are flawed, but you will have a much better time if you try and get along.
Not very counter-cultural but good advice. And the song rocks.