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 and I are like oil and water
And we've been trying, trying, trying
Oh, to mix it up
We've been dancing on a volcano
And we've been crying, crying, crying
Over blackened soles
Babe, this wouldn't be the first time
It will not be the last time
There is no parasol that could shelter this weather
I've been smiling with anchors on my shoulders
And I've been dying, dying, dying
Oh, to let them go
Babe, this wouldn't be the first time
It will not be the last time
There is no parasol that could shelter this weather
Babe, this wouldn't be the first time
Will not be the last time
We were trying to believe everything would get better
We've been lying to each other
Hey, babe! Let's just call it, call it, call it
Oh, what it is
Oil and water
Oil and water
Oil and water
Oil
And we've been trying, trying, trying
Oh, to mix it up
We've been dancing on a volcano
And we've been crying, crying, crying
Over blackened soles
Babe, this wouldn't be the first time
It will not be the last time
There is no parasol that could shelter this weather
I've been smiling with anchors on my shoulders
And I've been dying, dying, dying
Oh, to let them go
Babe, this wouldn't be the first time
It will not be the last time
There is no parasol that could shelter this weather
Babe, this wouldn't be the first time
Will not be the last time
We were trying to believe everything would get better
We've been lying to each other
Hey, babe! Let's just call it, call it, call it
Oh, what it is
Oil and water
Oil and water
Oil and water
Oil
Lyrics submitted by MakeYourSelf101
Oil and Water Lyrics as written by Brandon Charles Boyd Benjamin Lee Kenney
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hey maxpower511, who the hell are you to say these songs lack origionality. I have no idea where you decided these were "played out metaphors". I've never heard anything about oil and water or diamonds and coal being compared to relationships, and I've listened ot my fair share of music. I think the new Incubus album is a great escape from all the other modern day music.