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 apart at the seams
Pitching myself for leads in other people's dreams
Like buzz, buzz, buzz
Doc, there's a hole where something was
Doc, there's a hole where something was
Fell out of bed
Butterfly bandage
But don't worry
You'll never remember
Your head is far too blurry
Put him in the back of a squad car
Restrain that man
He needs his head put through a cat scan
Hey editor, I'm undeniable
Hey doctor, I'm certifiable
Oh, I'm a loose bolt of a complete machine
What a match
I'm half doomed and you're semi-sweet
So boycott love
Detox just to retox
And I'd promise you anything for another shot at life
Imperfect boys
With their perfect ploys
Nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy
(Wants to hear you sing about tragedy)
Ooh oh oh
Little girl
You got me staring odd, oh
Or was that just a telescopic camera nod
Painted doors in the highway
Truck stop stalls
Lot-lizards scales to deny my rules
All the rookies leave your badge and your gun on the desk, when you leave the room
I'm a loose bolt of a complete machine
What a match
I'm half doomed and you're semi-sweet
Boycott love
Detox just to retox
And I'd promise you anything for another shot at life (another shot at life)
Imperfect boys
With their perfect ploys
Nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy
(Wants to hear your sing about tragedy) oooh
(Detox just to retox)
(Detox just to retox)
(Detox just to retox)
(Detox just to retox)
So boycott love (detox just to retox)
Boycott love (detox just to retox)
Boycott love (detox just to retox)
So boycott love (boycott love)
Detox just to retox
And I'd promise you anything for another shot at life
Imperfect boys
With their perfect ploys
Nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy
(Wants to hear you sing)
Nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy
(Wants to hear you sing about tragedy) whoa
Pitching myself for leads in other people's dreams
Like buzz, buzz, buzz
Doc, there's a hole where something was
Doc, there's a hole where something was
Fell out of bed
Butterfly bandage
But don't worry
You'll never remember
Your head is far too blurry
Put him in the back of a squad car
Restrain that man
He needs his head put through a cat scan
Hey editor, I'm undeniable
Hey doctor, I'm certifiable
Oh, I'm a loose bolt of a complete machine
What a match
I'm half doomed and you're semi-sweet
So boycott love
Detox just to retox
And I'd promise you anything for another shot at life
Imperfect boys
With their perfect ploys
Nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy
(Wants to hear you sing about tragedy)
Ooh oh oh
Little girl
You got me staring odd, oh
Or was that just a telescopic camera nod
Painted doors in the highway
Truck stop stalls
Lot-lizards scales to deny my rules
All the rookies leave your badge and your gun on the desk, when you leave the room
I'm a loose bolt of a complete machine
What a match
I'm half doomed and you're semi-sweet
Boycott love
Detox just to retox
And I'd promise you anything for another shot at life (another shot at life)
Imperfect boys
With their perfect ploys
Nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy
(Wants to hear your sing about tragedy) oooh
(Detox just to retox)
(Detox just to retox)
(Detox just to retox)
(Detox just to retox)
So boycott love (detox just to retox)
Boycott love (detox just to retox)
Boycott love (detox just to retox)
So boycott love (boycott love)
Detox just to retox
And I'd promise you anything for another shot at life
Imperfect boys
With their perfect ploys
Nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy
(Wants to hear you sing)
Nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy
(Wants to hear you sing about tragedy) whoa
Lyrics submitted by thrwmyhrtawy., edited by MperfectMpostr, IAmTheMilkMan, carolinealliso, romankinnielovesarson
Disloyal Order Of Water Buffaloes Lyrics as written by Joseph Trohman Andrew Hurley
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the first stanza
"I'm coming apart at the seams Pitching myself for leads in other people's dreams Now buzz, buzz, buzz Doc, there's a hole where something was Doc, there's a hole where something was"
is about his role in the band.
He's the LEAD singer, and in most cases that translates to the lead in the band. But he's singing Pete W's lyrics, and essentially living Pete W's dream. Pete is the driving force behind the band, the one that wants to be a famous rock star. The lead singer, Pat, is just along for the ride, and isn't always keen on how much of his life has become devoted to FOB.
To me, the opening line has to be with his frustration that he's the "lead" in Pete's "dream" and he's telling his psychiatrist that he's not feeling fulfilled by the lifestyle.
I don't even think it's the opening to the song, I think it's the opening to the album - the fact that they ignore this section in concerts seems to emphasize that fact.
except the fact that Pat Stump writes almost all of the music, Pete just writes the lyrics.