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 can't hear you
You're talking to yourself
And what you're used to
It don't work on no one else
I'm gonna teach you
And keep you for myself
Gonna take you by the hand
And walk you to my house
So I can hear you
I wanna hear you
I can't say so
Naive, be so naive
You're stashing money
There're rubies up your sleeve
I'm gonna teach you
You're never gonna leave
I'm gonna take you by the hand
Gonna walk you to my house
So I can hear you
I wanna hear you
I can't hear you
You're talking to yourself
And what you're used to
It don't work on no one else
I wanna teach you
Keep you for myself
Gonna take you by the hand
I'm gonna walk you to my house
So I can hear you
I wanna hear you
I wanna hear you
I wanna hear you
I wanna hear you
I wanna hear you
You're talking to yourself
And what you're used to
It don't work on no one else
I'm gonna teach you
And keep you for myself
Gonna take you by the hand
And walk you to my house
So I can hear you
I wanna hear you
I can't say so
Naive, be so naive
You're stashing money
There're rubies up your sleeve
I'm gonna teach you
You're never gonna leave
I'm gonna take you by the hand
Gonna walk you to my house
So I can hear you
I wanna hear you
I can't hear you
You're talking to yourself
And what you're used to
It don't work on no one else
I wanna teach you
Keep you for myself
Gonna take you by the hand
I'm gonna walk you to my house
So I can hear you
I wanna hear you
I wanna hear you
I wanna hear you
I wanna hear you
I wanna hear you
Lyrics submitted by StopRemembering
I Can't Hear You Lyrics as written by Jack White Jack Lawrence
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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The correct lyrics (by the CD booklet, and general listening) are:
I can't hear you You're talking to yourself And what you're used to Don't work on no one else I'm gonna teach you And keep you for myself I'm gonna take you by the hand I'm gonna walk you to my house So I can hear you
Look up and say so Naive be so naive You're stashing money And rubies up your sleeves I'm gonna teach you You're never gonna leave I'm gonna make you understand There's nobody you can trust But me
I can't hear you You're talking to yourself And what you're used to Don't work on no one else I'm gonna teach you And keep you for myself I'm gonna take you by the hand I'm gonna walk you to my house I want to hear you
I want to hear you You're talking to yourself And what your used to Don't work on no one else I'm gonna teach you And keep you for myself I'm gonna take you by the hand I'm gonna walk you to my house So I can hear you
I want to hear you I want to hear you I want to hear you I want to hear you
I'm not sure, but I think this is wrong:
(second verse) "Gonna take you by the hand And walk you to my house"
corrected:
"I'm gonna take you by the hand I'm gonna walk you to my house"
Anyway, awesome song! I love Alison's voice.
I think it means that they don't understand someone, and they want to because they love them, so they want to take them 'for themselves' so they can know them properly without anyone else to interrupt or to change how they find them. I can't explain what I mean properly, it's hard. But I always thought it was about being in love with someone who is a complete mystery to them, perhaps isn't someone they particularly like or respect, but want to.
I hear it as a "Come say it to my face" theme. And followed by a "What? Can't hear you say it again." (person stands there in silence and other person says... "Yeah that's what I thought." Or they could just could have tied the person up and tortured this person into telling the truth. All in all BOSS.
Reeeeally sexy, no words.
Sounds like someone who is obsessed with someone else. I\'ve been watching too much true crime lately. I totally see (in mind\'s eye) someone being abducted and tortured. Anyone else hear it as creepy lyrics? Love the song.