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.
What gives this mess some grace
Unless it's kicks, man
Unless it's fiction
Unless it's sweat or it's songs
What hits against this chest
Unless it's a sick man's hand
From some mid-level band
He's been driving too long
On a dark windless night
With the stereo on
With the towns flying by
And the ground getting soft
And the sound in the sky
Coming down from above
It surrounds you at times
And it's whispering, oh
What pulls your body down
That is quicksand
So we climb out quick, hand over hand
For your mouth's all filled up
What picks you up from down
Unless it's tricks, man
When I been fixed, I am convinced
That I will not get so broke up again
And on a seven day high
That heavenly song
Punches right through my mind
And pumps through my blood
And I know it's a lie
But I still give my love
And my heart's all alive
For your hands to pluck off, oh
What gives this mess some grace
Unless it's fictions
Unless it's licks, man
Unless it's lies or it's love
What breaks this heart the most
Is the ghost of some rock 'n' roll fan
Exploding up from the stands
With her heart opened up
And I wanna tell her, your love isn't lost
Say, my heart is still crossed
Scream, you're so wonderful
What a dream in the dark
About working so hard
About growing so stoned
Trying not to turn up
Trying not to believe in the light on your own
La, la, la, la, oh, oh, oh, oh
Unless it's kicks, man
Unless it's fiction
Unless it's sweat or it's songs
What hits against this chest
Unless it's a sick man's hand
From some mid-level band
He's been driving too long
On a dark windless night
With the stereo on
With the towns flying by
And the ground getting soft
And the sound in the sky
Coming down from above
It surrounds you at times
And it's whispering, oh
What pulls your body down
That is quicksand
So we climb out quick, hand over hand
For your mouth's all filled up
What picks you up from down
Unless it's tricks, man
When I been fixed, I am convinced
That I will not get so broke up again
And on a seven day high
That heavenly song
Punches right through my mind
And pumps through my blood
And I know it's a lie
But I still give my love
And my heart's all alive
For your hands to pluck off, oh
What gives this mess some grace
Unless it's fictions
Unless it's licks, man
Unless it's lies or it's love
What breaks this heart the most
Is the ghost of some rock 'n' roll fan
Exploding up from the stands
With her heart opened up
And I wanna tell her, your love isn't lost
Say, my heart is still crossed
Scream, you're so wonderful
What a dream in the dark
About working so hard
About growing so stoned
Trying not to turn up
Trying not to believe in the light on your own
La, la, la, la, oh, oh, oh, oh
Lyrics submitted by smileforthecamera
Unless It's Kicks Lyrics as written by Will Robinson Sheff
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mental Istid
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Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
this song literally makes me explode with emotion. someone mentioned some sort of effect with the pronounciation of the S's, which makes sense. i also love the beat, and the way it builds up. i wasn't even going to listen to this song. wow, am i glad i did.