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.
Uh, uh
Take a breath, take it deep
Calm yourself, he says to me
If you play, you play for keeps
Take the gun and count to three
I'm sweating now, moving slow
No time to think, my turn to go
And you can see my heart beating
You can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
I know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger (trigger, trigger, trigger)
Say a prayer, to yourself
He says, close your eyes
Sometimes it helps
And then I get, a scary thought
That he's here, means he's never lost
And you can see my heart beating
Oh, you can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger
As my life flashes before my eyes
I'm wondering will I ever see another sunrise?
So many won't get the chance to say goodbye
But it's too late to think of the value of my life
And you can see my heart beating
Ohh-oh, you can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, no
Know that I must pass this test
And you can see my heart beating
Oh, you can see it through my chest
I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, no
Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger (trigger, trigger, trigger)
Take a breath, take it deep
Calm yourself, he says to me
If you play, you play for keeps
Take the gun and count to three
I'm sweating now, moving slow
No time to think, my turn to go
And you can see my heart beating
You can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
I know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger (trigger, trigger, trigger)
Say a prayer, to yourself
He says, close your eyes
Sometimes it helps
And then I get, a scary thought
That he's here, means he's never lost
And you can see my heart beating
Oh, you can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger
As my life flashes before my eyes
I'm wondering will I ever see another sunrise?
So many won't get the chance to say goodbye
But it's too late to think of the value of my life
And you can see my heart beating
Ohh-oh, you can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, no
Know that I must pass this test
And you can see my heart beating
Oh, you can see it through my chest
I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, no
Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger (trigger, trigger, trigger)
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I think what makes this song so great is it is pure metaphor, rather than just simile. The song describes what could just be a literal game of Russian roulette.
But of course it can (and does) go much deeper than that-- and I think the genius is that it could go many different ways! I'm sure Rihanna has her own personal interpretation, but there are so ways to interpret it that fit equally well.
Like poopygill, I initially thought of gang initiations and real-world violence, like child (or adult) soldiers.
Conversely, it could be about love in general-- taking a risk to give your heart away but never knowing what the result of your risk could be.
It could also just be about being pressured to have sex, especially if that situation is borderline-rape-- she doesn't really want it, but she is consumed by the pressure to do it anyway, which makes it a rather manipulative and abusive situation. Which leads me to my next point . . .
Especially considering Rihanna's relationship with Chris Brown, the abuse interpretation seems very apt: She's playing a deadly game with someone who's never lost (and therefore whose partners have never won), and it's only a matter of time before one of them is destroyed.
I'll admit it's hard for me to see the suicide interpretation, since clearly there is another person mentioned in the song; there's clearly some sort of manipulative relationship going on, whether it's political, social, or romantic. But if you've found a way to make that resonate with you, then why not?
I think the fact it is so minimalist-- low on specifics, high on emotion-- is precisely what gives it its power.
MurasakiNeko Wrote:<br /> <br /> "I think the fact it is so minimalist-- low on specifics, high on emotion-- is precisely what gives it its power. "<br /> <br /> Very nice way of putting it!