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 make me lose my buttons oh yeah you make me spit
I don't like my clothes anymore
We're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we?re taking control
You make me lose my buttons oh yeah you make me spit
I don't like my clothes anymore
You take me to New Orleans where you put me to the test
I know what my heart is for
You reach out for blanket I say girl you've got something
I love how you wear it
Now we're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we're taking control
Love will get you down
My love's a laboratory
I set all my pets free
So baby you should sleep with me
I make trips to the bathroom
Yeah my friends all have true grit
I am speckled like a leopard
Put a lid on Shirley Temple
Yeah you make sleek kills
Yeah you travel you travel
You park me in your buick
You sing songs into my lips
Well I am speckled like a leopard
Just like a leopard
Trust will get you down
I love the way
You put me in the big house
I love the way
You put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting so put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting so put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep girl
When you wear that body glove
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
All I want is to be the very best for you
All I want is to be the very best for you
Oh this time
There'll be no life of crime
Don't rain on me tonight
Circle around me now baby it'll be ok
Cause we all go downtown sometimes
Somehow baby we'll beat this mess
It's the time fuck the surface to meet the specialist
Time away from me
Will get you down
I love the way you put me in the big house
I love the way you put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting is just waiting
So put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting
So put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep
When you wear that body clock
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
If you're frustrated then go
If you're frustrated then go
Honey bee, we should be through with this,
Your packaged eyes, your vicious lips
You could be young, but you're out of touch
If this loves been done, then what's your rush?
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
I don't like my clothes anymore
We're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we?re taking control
You make me lose my buttons oh yeah you make me spit
I don't like my clothes anymore
You take me to New Orleans where you put me to the test
I know what my heart is for
You reach out for blanket I say girl you've got something
I love how you wear it
Now we're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we're taking control
Love will get you down
My love's a laboratory
I set all my pets free
So baby you should sleep with me
I make trips to the bathroom
Yeah my friends all have true grit
I am speckled like a leopard
Put a lid on Shirley Temple
Yeah you make sleek kills
Yeah you travel you travel
You park me in your buick
You sing songs into my lips
Well I am speckled like a leopard
Just like a leopard
Trust will get you down
I love the way
You put me in the big house
I love the way
You put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting so put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting so put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep girl
When you wear that body glove
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
All I want is to be the very best for you
All I want is to be the very best for you
Oh this time
There'll be no life of crime
Don't rain on me tonight
Circle around me now baby it'll be ok
Cause we all go downtown sometimes
Somehow baby we'll beat this mess
It's the time fuck the surface to meet the specialist
Time away from me
Will get you down
I love the way you put me in the big house
I love the way you put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting is just waiting
So put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting
So put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep
When you wear that body clock
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
If you're frustrated then go
If you're frustrated then go
Honey bee, we should be through with this,
Your packaged eyes, your vicious lips
You could be young, but you're out of touch
If this loves been done, then what's your rush?
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
Lyrics submitted by Nimo, edited by Mellow_Harsher, alrightsogood
Specialist Lyrics as written by Ali Williams Albert Johnson
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
This is one of my favourite Interpol songs actually. I love the bass line. And Paul's voice obviously...sigh...