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.
I know I said I love you but I'm thinking I was wrong
I'm the first to admit that I'm still pretty young
And I never meant to hurt you when I wrote you ten love songs
That guy that I could never get, oh his girlfriend was pretty fit
And everyone who knew her loves her so
And I made you leave her for me and now I'm feeling pretty mean
But my mind has fucked me over more times than any man could ever know
Maybe I should give up, give in
Give up trying to be thin
Give up and turn into my mother
God knows I love her
And I'm sorry to whichever man should meet my sorry state
Watch my sturdy, lonesome gait and beware
I will never love a man 'cause love and pain go hand-in-hand
And I can't do it
Again
So we stayed up late one night to try and get our problems right
But I couldn't get into his head just what was going through my mind
Think he knew where I was going, he put Ryan Adams on
I think he thinks it makes me weak, but it only ever makes me strong
I've got this friend who sounds just like him
And he's the man I'd leave you for, the man that I just adore, like you
The same man, he turns to me, he said "I've got to tell you how I feel
If God could make a perfect girl, for me it would be you
And my God told me not to tell about how much do you love your fella?"
I don't know more everyday
Not in this new romantic way
I'll always be your first love
You'll always be my first love
But I'm sorry to whichever man should meet my sorry state
Watch my sturdy, lonesome gait and beware
I will never love a man 'cause love and pain go hand-in-hand
And I can't do it
Again
I will never love a man 'cause I could never hurt a man
Not in this new romantic way
I'm the first to admit that I'm still pretty young
And I never meant to hurt you when I wrote you ten love songs
That guy that I could never get, oh his girlfriend was pretty fit
And everyone who knew her loves her so
And I made you leave her for me and now I'm feeling pretty mean
But my mind has fucked me over more times than any man could ever know
Maybe I should give up, give in
Give up trying to be thin
Give up and turn into my mother
God knows I love her
And I'm sorry to whichever man should meet my sorry state
Watch my sturdy, lonesome gait and beware
I will never love a man 'cause love and pain go hand-in-hand
And I can't do it
Again
So we stayed up late one night to try and get our problems right
But I couldn't get into his head just what was going through my mind
Think he knew where I was going, he put Ryan Adams on
I think he thinks it makes me weak, but it only ever makes me strong
I've got this friend who sounds just like him
And he's the man I'd leave you for, the man that I just adore, like you
The same man, he turns to me, he said "I've got to tell you how I feel
If God could make a perfect girl, for me it would be you
And my God told me not to tell about how much do you love your fella?"
I don't know more everyday
Not in this new romantic way
I'll always be your first love
You'll always be my first love
But I'm sorry to whichever man should meet my sorry state
Watch my sturdy, lonesome gait and beware
I will never love a man 'cause love and pain go hand-in-hand
And I can't do it
Again
I will never love a man 'cause I could never hurt a man
Not in this new romantic way
Lyrics submitted by romanceisdead
New Romantic Lyrics as written by Laura Beatrice Marling
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Watch my STEADY, lonesome gait and BE AWARE
or at least that's how i'm hearing it, and it seems to make more sense than 'sturdy'.
i am in love with this song... :)