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.
Hold on to my hand
Never let go, never let go
We were just two kids acting tough
Then we grew up, me, not so much
All the other guys
That you've seen
Are nothing compared to me
Because my love is strong
And my heart is weak after all
When we first met
We spoke so brief
When you sang a sonnet
I hummed sweet relief
Do you recall that night
We took the L
Out into Bushwick?
It was colder than hell
So maybe there
We should have stopped
'Cause I'm left here
Feeling like a cop
Because my love is strong
And my heart is weak after all
To the other side
Of the state's return
I met a young girl
Well, I couldn't manage her
Because I think of you
In every girl I meet
It's no relief
That sounds to me just as sweet
So maybe I'm the fool
For feeling used
By the way we kissed that night
I though you knew
Because my love is strong
And my heart is weak after all
Never let go, never let go
We were just two kids acting tough
Then we grew up, me, not so much
All the other guys
That you've seen
Are nothing compared to me
Because my love is strong
And my heart is weak after all
When we first met
We spoke so brief
When you sang a sonnet
I hummed sweet relief
Do you recall that night
We took the L
Out into Bushwick?
It was colder than hell
So maybe there
We should have stopped
'Cause I'm left here
Feeling like a cop
Because my love is strong
And my heart is weak after all
To the other side
Of the state's return
I met a young girl
Well, I couldn't manage her
Because I think of you
In every girl I meet
It's no relief
That sounds to me just as sweet
So maybe I'm the fool
For feeling used
By the way we kissed that night
I though you knew
Because my love is strong
And my heart is weak after all
Lyrics submitted by alexpigment
Bushwick Blues Lyrics as written by Jonathan Jameson Brandon Young
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I absolutely love this song. I can't get enough of it.