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.
The world is turning
I hope it don't turn away
The world is turning
I hope it don't turn away
All my pictures are falling from the wall where I placed them yesterday
The world is turning
I hope it don't turn away
I need a crowd of people
But I can't face them day to day
I need a crowd of people
But I can't face them day to day
Though my problems are meaningless, that don't make them go away
I need a crowd of people
But I can't face them day to day
I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone
I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone
Now I'm living out here on the beach, but those seagulls are still out of reach
I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone
Get out of town, think I'll get out of town
Get out of town, think I'll get out of town
I head for the sticks with my bus and friends
I follow the road, though I don't know where it ends
Get out of town, think I'll get out of town
Because the world is turning
I don't want to see it turn away
I hope it don't turn away
The world is turning
I hope it don't turn away
All my pictures are falling from the wall where I placed them yesterday
The world is turning
I hope it don't turn away
I need a crowd of people
But I can't face them day to day
I need a crowd of people
But I can't face them day to day
Though my problems are meaningless, that don't make them go away
I need a crowd of people
But I can't face them day to day
I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone
I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone
Now I'm living out here on the beach, but those seagulls are still out of reach
I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone
Get out of town, think I'll get out of town
Get out of town, think I'll get out of town
I head for the sticks with my bus and friends
I follow the road, though I don't know where it ends
Get out of town, think I'll get out of town
Because the world is turning
I don't want to see it turn away
Lyrics submitted by comeonteamluca
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He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
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This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
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The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Yes, it is a Neil Young cover. Radiohead (or more specifically, Thom and Jonny) did it during an acoustic set for a radio broadcast. Quite an appropriate song for such a situation, given the lyrics.
I think they did a good job with it (Thom's voice suits the song beautifully), but it's a great song in the first place. Neil Young has written many amazing songs, and this is one of them. The original is worth checking out, if you're not familiar with it.
I think it's about fame and mixed feelings that come with reaching it. The narrator needs people to like his work, but at the same time he can't face them and wants to get away. Even though he's reached a high point, he's still not satisfied ('the seagulls are still out of reach').
'Though my problems are meaningless/that don't make them go away' is such a great line to sum up how the general world sees famous people. Someone else's problems might seem trivial because of their station in life, but that doesn't make their problems any less difficult for them to deal with. Everything is relative.
Such a sad but brilliant song. It's no wonder Radiohead have done four different Neil Young covers.
ive never even heard of this song...has it been released?
Actually, On the Beach is a Neil Young cover...I'm pretty sure of it.
I think it's more about someone who has gone past the crowning moments of his life, and everything he's ever done is slipping away from him.
I need a crowd of people But I can't face them day to day
Means he's moody, sometimes wants to be around a lot of people, but needs alone time, too.
All my pictures are falling from the wall where I placed them yesterday
Means life is changing....
Because the world is turning I don't want to see it turn away
Means the world is changing but he hopes it will still accept him