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.
My little boy on the kitchen floor
(My little Basquiat)
Stick men fighting stick dinosaurs
(My little Basquiat)
Colors leaping all over the mat
(My little Basquiat)
The kitchen floor is where it's at
For my little Basquiat
One day he'll be golden
Maybe chosen perhaps to lead
One day he'll be shaken
Maybe taken perhaps to bleed
My big girl swinging from the bars
(My little comaniche)
Fist of stone flying above the yard
(My little comaniche)
Halfway up is halfway down
(My little comaniche)
Now maybe it's the other way around
For my little comaniche
One day she'll be moonlight
Maybe too bright perhaps to shine
One day she'll be found out
Maybe ground down, perhaps she'll cry
My little girl on her mother's lap
(My little panchen lama)
Sucking on her fingers, surveying the road map
(My little panchen lama)
Seems to be the only one around
(My little panchen lama)
That sees the red lights at the end of town
My little panchen lama
One day they'll be older
Maybe bolder perhaps than me
One day they'll be rising
Maybe living perhaps in peace
One day they'll be older
Maybe bolder perhaps than me
One day they'll be rising
Maybe living perhaps in peace
Perhaps in peace
Perhaps in peace
Perhaps in peace
(My little Basquiat)
Stick men fighting stick dinosaurs
(My little Basquiat)
Colors leaping all over the mat
(My little Basquiat)
The kitchen floor is where it's at
For my little Basquiat
One day he'll be golden
Maybe chosen perhaps to lead
One day he'll be shaken
Maybe taken perhaps to bleed
My big girl swinging from the bars
(My little comaniche)
Fist of stone flying above the yard
(My little comaniche)
Halfway up is halfway down
(My little comaniche)
Now maybe it's the other way around
For my little comaniche
One day she'll be moonlight
Maybe too bright perhaps to shine
One day she'll be found out
Maybe ground down, perhaps she'll cry
My little girl on her mother's lap
(My little panchen lama)
Sucking on her fingers, surveying the road map
(My little panchen lama)
Seems to be the only one around
(My little panchen lama)
That sees the red lights at the end of town
My little panchen lama
One day they'll be older
Maybe bolder perhaps than me
One day they'll be rising
Maybe living perhaps in peace
One day they'll be older
Maybe bolder perhaps than me
One day they'll be rising
Maybe living perhaps in peace
Perhaps in peace
Perhaps in peace
Perhaps in peace
Lyrics submitted by sketchymurr
My Little Basquiat Lyrics as written by Michael Edward Timmins Alan Anton Alivojvodic
Lyrics © PAZ JUNK MUSIC INC, Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I'm surprised nobody has commented on this song. Perhaps it's because it's a bit different from the older CJ songs. Anyway, I love this song. It has interesting lyrics that seem to be about the various paths that a child can take and what lies in his her future. I don't know what "basquiat" or "comaniche" mean, but I assume they are colloquial terms in Canada. I looked them up, but could not find anything. In any event, this song has an edge to it unlike much of the CJ songs. It is haunting and a little sinister sounding, but yet Margo sings about children and their future. I wish more CJ songs were in this vein. If you like this you will like Mountain and It Doesn't Really Matter Anyway on this album (At The End of Paths Taken). A great song that I can't stop playing.