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.
Restless feet, dig holes into the bed sheets
Cross my eyes to see the sun on both sides
And feel it on my skin
God only knows what I think anymore
I write things down, don't know what for
You still sing the same ol' song you've always sung
Cruel to be so young
You'll still sing it's now or never
Cruel to be so young
This is never gonna change
Things are gonna stay this way
Another night
The same ol' city lights
Cross the t's
So you'll know what I mean
Again and Again and Again
Lately I've been livin' in a different day
Mistakes make for good in such strange ways
You'll still sing the same ol' song you've always sung
So cruel to be so young
You still sing it's now or never
Cruel to be so young
This is never gonna change
Things are gonna stay this way
So cruel to be young
Cross my eyes to see the sun on both sides
And feel it on my skin
God only knows what I think anymore
I write things down, don't know what for
You still sing the same ol' song you've always sung
Cruel to be so young
You'll still sing it's now or never
Cruel to be so young
This is never gonna change
Things are gonna stay this way
Another night
The same ol' city lights
Cross the t's
So you'll know what I mean
Again and Again and Again
Lately I've been livin' in a different day
Mistakes make for good in such strange ways
You'll still sing the same ol' song you've always sung
So cruel to be so young
You still sing it's now or never
Cruel to be so young
This is never gonna change
Things are gonna stay this way
So cruel to be young
Lyrics submitted by cutdowntree
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!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
The Spy
Doors, The
Doors, The
Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
when rules change
Life in Your Way
Life in Your Way
High life
Battle Royale
Word Alive, The
Word Alive, The
This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.