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.
When we walked the streets together
All the faces seemed to smile back
And now the pavements
Have nothing to offer
And all the faces seem to need a slap
There's an unfamiliar grip
On an unfamiliar handkerchief
Attending to the tears on cheeks
I wouldn't notice
With you no matter how vicious the grief
Her expression was damp and crooked
Grabs onto my throat and won't let go
Won't let go
Won't let go
Won't let go
Save me from
The secateurs
I'll pretend
I didn't hear
Can't you see
I'm the ghost in the wrong coat
Biting butter and crumbs
There's a handsome maverick
You don't talk about to keep me calm
And I can't help
But try create a diversion
Pulls you back onto his arm
Please don't tell me
You don't have to darling I can sense
That he painted you a gushing sunset
And slayed
Their angry panthers in your defense
He stands separate and ever deadly
Clings onto my throat and won't let go
Won't let go
Won't let go
Won't let go
Save me from
The secateurs
I'll pretend
I didn't hear
Can't you see
I'm a ghost
In the wrong coat
Biting butter and crumbs
All the faces seemed to smile back
And now the pavements
Have nothing to offer
And all the faces seem to need a slap
There's an unfamiliar grip
On an unfamiliar handkerchief
Attending to the tears on cheeks
I wouldn't notice
With you no matter how vicious the grief
Her expression was damp and crooked
Grabs onto my throat and won't let go
Won't let go
Won't let go
Won't let go
Save me from
The secateurs
I'll pretend
I didn't hear
Can't you see
I'm the ghost in the wrong coat
Biting butter and crumbs
There's a handsome maverick
You don't talk about to keep me calm
And I can't help
But try create a diversion
Pulls you back onto his arm
Please don't tell me
You don't have to darling I can sense
That he painted you a gushing sunset
And slayed
Their angry panthers in your defense
He stands separate and ever deadly
Clings onto my throat and won't let go
Won't let go
Won't let go
Won't let go
Save me from
The secateurs
I'll pretend
I didn't hear
Can't you see
I'm a ghost
In the wrong coat
Biting butter and crumbs
Lyrics submitted by olliemilton7
Separate and Ever Deadly Lyrics as written by Miles Peter Kane Alexander David Turner
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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You are correct, except he saying - Save me from the sequiturs, not secateurs. Meaning, save him from the logical end. I feel he is saying he can see the relationship is ending, but doesn't want it to. Or the end of the story, where she ends up with this other guy.
Oh! I was wondering what he was doing with garden shears! That makes so much more sense.
I agree with wadems. <br /> Rather than the relationship having ended, it seems like what he's saying is that he is with this girl, but feels it's coming to an end, and that she will go back to an old lover. (Why would she care about keeping him calm if they weren't together?) "I can't help if I create a version that pulls you back into his arms", which I take to meaning they used to be together, before Alex. Also the fact that he says "that he painted you a gushing sunset and slayed angry panthers in your defence" is in past tense makes me think that he is an ex-boyfriend rather than a present one.<br /> I'm not sure though, because he does seem to imply form the very start that they're not together anymore, what do you think? and what does the chorus mean?<br /> <br />