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.
You loom so deep and wide
I would cross over
If you would stem the tide
Build a boat
That I might thwart the other side
To reach the farther shore
Where my true love lies in wait for me
In wait for me
In wait for me
In wait for me
Oh, gray river
Your waters ramble while
The horses shiver
And bide against the bridal
But I will cross
If mine own horse is pulled from me
Though my mother cries that if I try
I sure will drown it be
Will drown it be
Will drown it be
Will drown it be
But if you cull
And let me pass
You may render me a wreck
When I come back
So calm your waves
And slow the churn
And you may have my precious bones on my return
Annan water
Oh hear my true love's call
Hear her holler
Above your water's pall
God, that I could
That my two arms could give me way
And I would cross your breath
And rest my breast about her amber ring
Her amber ring
Her amber ring
But if you cull
And let me pass
You may render me a wreck
When I come back
So calm your waves
And slow the churn
And you may have my precious bones
On my
On my
Return
I would cross over
If you would stem the tide
Build a boat
That I might thwart the other side
To reach the farther shore
Where my true love lies in wait for me
In wait for me
In wait for me
In wait for me
Oh, gray river
Your waters ramble while
The horses shiver
And bide against the bridal
But I will cross
If mine own horse is pulled from me
Though my mother cries that if I try
I sure will drown it be
Will drown it be
Will drown it be
Will drown it be
But if you cull
And let me pass
You may render me a wreck
When I come back
So calm your waves
And slow the churn
And you may have my precious bones on my return
Annan water
Oh hear my true love's call
Hear her holler
Above your water's pall
God, that I could
That my two arms could give me way
And I would cross your breath
And rest my breast about her amber ring
Her amber ring
Her amber ring
But if you cull
And let me pass
You may render me a wreck
When I come back
So calm your waves
And slow the churn
And you may have my precious bones
On my
On my
Return
Lyrics submitted by MarcelLionheart, edited by Fionnula, BrutalBart, virtualRefrain, boogieordie
Annan Water Lyrics as written by Colin Meloy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
He's singing "You may render me a-wrack when I come back"