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.
They take advantage of him all of the time
Their fingers rape his cavities
Proven for a hidden cliche'
He's a fruit that got in gravity's way
He's the first to tell you he's full of shit
Like that's half a compliment for men
Though hes waking up in puddles of piss
He marinates his metaphors in them
[Chorus]
And in this moment
La, lalaladada, lalaladada, lalaladada
They'll be falling in love
La, lalaladada, lalaladada, lalaladada
She takes photographs of people she knows
She brings out the best and worst in them
And God is buried deep in the folds
Of her fractured self and the lies that they've told
She used to laugh at everything old
It was a joke that never aged a bit
But when they robbed her of her infinite smile
She said maybe I'll just play dead for a while
[Chorus]
I'm right here and I must admit
I've been pining for you
Your my wish
When I touch my self I am conjuring you
From when we talk all night and the minutes are free
I just hope when I cast my spell you'll be falling for me
Because
Falling in love could be the first thing
Falling in love could be the worst thing
Falling in love there's no rehearsing
Retarded in love
Their fingers rape his cavities
Proven for a hidden cliche'
He's a fruit that got in gravity's way
He's the first to tell you he's full of shit
Like that's half a compliment for men
Though hes waking up in puddles of piss
He marinates his metaphors in them
[Chorus]
And in this moment
La, lalaladada, lalaladada, lalaladada
They'll be falling in love
La, lalaladada, lalaladada, lalaladada
She takes photographs of people she knows
She brings out the best and worst in them
And God is buried deep in the folds
Of her fractured self and the lies that they've told
She used to laugh at everything old
It was a joke that never aged a bit
But when they robbed her of her infinite smile
She said maybe I'll just play dead for a while
[Chorus]
I'm right here and I must admit
I've been pining for you
Your my wish
When I touch my self I am conjuring you
From when we talk all night and the minutes are free
I just hope when I cast my spell you'll be falling for me
Because
Falling in love could be the first thing
Falling in love could be the worst thing
Falling in love there's no rehearsing
Retarded in love
Lyrics submitted by jusgrimey, edited by sirludwigvanbiffington
Retarded in Love Lyrics as written by Max Bemis
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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Retarded in Love (feat. Casey Prestwood, Chris Carrabba & Michael Auerbach) song meanings
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
My interpretation:
It's about two people who are both outcasts and who don't get along well with other people because they're rejected. They realize their common characteristics and fall in love. The "retarded in love" line is meant two ways: retarded together because they're the "retards" of society, and retarded as in madly in love.
This is such an excellent song. The first time I heard it, I chuckled at the line where he talks to the girl at night because the minutes are free, haha. That's so true, people talking at night for the free minutes.