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.
He's the middle man
Stole my heart
But he was the master
Oh no no
Now knee deep in yearning
The bastard kept me waiting
Around like a dumb dumb
I see you, what
But I won't learn
I see you
He's a little thief
Stole my heart
But he was faster
Than I've ever known
Now I'm like a zombie
Go where he goes
He could bounce me like a yo-yo
Around like a boomerang
He didn't think of that one
Look, here he comes around
I'd better run
[Chorus:]
Jellyman, jellyman
You know you're messin' with a Jezebel
I won't bounce you like a yo-yo
Jellyman, jellyman
You know you're messin' with a Jezebel
I won't bounce you like a yo-yo around an around
He was some petty thief, caught my eye
An I'm in a fix now
Oh no he won't see me, I'm no one
Just another one to make goo goo eyes like a dumb dumb
Not a string along, no
I'm the only one
He'll come around
I don't want no jellyman jammin' up my can can
I'm with my mister, ah yes I am
Now he has to follow, go where I go
I can bounce him like a yo-yo
Around like a boomerang
He didn't think of that one, no
When he came around, I didn't run
[Chorus:]
I see you on
I see you on
I see you on
I see you jellyman, jellyman
See you
See you jellyman, jellyman
See you
See you jellyman, jellyman
[Chorus:]
Stole my heart
But he was the master
Oh no no
Now knee deep in yearning
The bastard kept me waiting
Around like a dumb dumb
I see you, what
But I won't learn
I see you
He's a little thief
Stole my heart
But he was faster
Than I've ever known
Now I'm like a zombie
Go where he goes
He could bounce me like a yo-yo
Around like a boomerang
He didn't think of that one
Look, here he comes around
I'd better run
[Chorus:]
Jellyman, jellyman
You know you're messin' with a Jezebel
I won't bounce you like a yo-yo
Jellyman, jellyman
You know you're messin' with a Jezebel
I won't bounce you like a yo-yo around an around
He was some petty thief, caught my eye
An I'm in a fix now
Oh no he won't see me, I'm no one
Just another one to make goo goo eyes like a dumb dumb
Not a string along, no
I'm the only one
He'll come around
I don't want no jellyman jammin' up my can can
I'm with my mister, ah yes I am
Now he has to follow, go where I go
I can bounce him like a yo-yo
Around like a boomerang
He didn't think of that one, no
When he came around, I didn't run
[Chorus:]
I see you on
I see you on
I see you on
I see you jellyman, jellyman
See you
See you jellyman, jellyman
See you
See you jellyman, jellyman
[Chorus:]
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