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'm coming up for air so I can
Check myself again and I stand
Proven to the man but sheltered
Confidence we tend to shelf and
Unexpected hunger drives me
Just shut up and stand beside me
I don't need your understanding
I don't need to change a damn thing
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah
Just turn the page and watch me grow
There's so many things that you don't know
About my soul
Live and die but this will not get old
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
Nothing in between to fall through
I'm being myself who are you
You stand above and look down
You're just a plagaristic clown
You suck the life out of me
You keep track of the pity
And when this well becomes dry
You'll shed a tear for another lie
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah
Just turn the page and watch me grow
There's so many things that you don't know
About my soul
Live and die but this will not get old
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah, yeah, yeah ooh
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
Check myself again and I stand
Proven to the man but sheltered
Confidence we tend to shelf and
Unexpected hunger drives me
Just shut up and stand beside me
I don't need your understanding
I don't need to change a damn thing
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah
Just turn the page and watch me grow
There's so many things that you don't know
About my soul
Live and die but this will not get old
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
Nothing in between to fall through
I'm being myself who are you
You stand above and look down
You're just a plagaristic clown
You suck the life out of me
You keep track of the pity
And when this well becomes dry
You'll shed a tear for another lie
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah
Just turn the page and watch me grow
There's so many things that you don't know
About my soul
Live and die but this will not get old
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
And though I'm used to have you here
It doesn't change the man I was
When you found me
And there was no one else around me, yeah, yeah, yeah ooh
Just when you think that you're down and out
Don't preconceive what I'm all about
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend that you are not
And when you think that we played it out
We come from the bottom and knock it out
Look for a reason that you have to start
Acting like a friend but you are not, yeah
Lyrics submitted by keepemseparated
Down And Out Lyrics as written by Erik Leonhardt Hugo Ferreira
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Oh the meaning is way too obvious.