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're the nose on my bullet
The trigger on my gun
You're the sandbank in the ocean
Oxygen in my blood
You're the fastest of the fish
You're the prickliest pear
You're a chameleon in the night
You're the sahara's sun glare
You're my mind's rest
You're the strings on my guitar
You're the wax in my moustache
The keys to my car
You're the magical mermaid's hollowed illusion
You cool them, fool them
And they hope so much
And you let them down
And you watch from your rock
And your heart beats fast as you watch their's stop
I will keep on loving
'Cos I believe in love
I don't mind dying
If you follow me up
Your victory's your defeat
Your head above your heart
Only the brave surrender
Death cannot tear us apart
Well my smile is wider
Than your's when we meet
And the winter is colder
For me underneath
And I know that you glow
From the inside out
You can keep it for yourself
And I'll go without
You are the fire and I'm the chimney
You'll burn away and I'll choke on your memory
All the words, my sense, you're the poet to my pen
You're the dream that brings the morning sadness
Start the day storm in my head
Well you're the Oscar Wilde short stories in my bookcase
You're positively 4th street isolated in my itunes
You're the word in the dictionary that I can't spell
Can't describe, can't put in a sentence but use all the time
Your own pair of trousers look better on me
The boots of spanish leather
And the bottom of the sea
Every symbol of love that doesn't relate to a meaning
Every feeling, every sensation
Only real when I'm dreaming
I will keep on loving
'Cos I believe in love
I don't mind dying
If you follow me up
Your victory's your defeat
Your head above your heart
Only the brave surrender
Death cannot tear us apart
Well I wish we were animals free of loves games
I wish we were snails with really big shells
I wish I was a lion, I'd be king of the wild
I'd command all the beasts to carry you when you're tired
I'm the elephant in the circus
Oh, you're my trainer
You'd never let me go
But if you did I would stay here
In love there is freedom
But it must be returned
There must be sacrifice
Love must be learnt
A donkey, a mule, a lifetime of work
In death he rests his head from his reins
No burden to bare but work left him lame
And the lion on the mountain chased from his pride
His lioness stolen, his rival survives
The sound of his cubs in death are dim
He knows his world well, no pain can defeat him
Wild horses in the wilderness
Will know no journey home
Well my love is locked in chains
The lion walks alone
Oh the lion walks alone
Nature is cruel
But he knows it's his home
He to his demons
And you to your own
Please let me stand by you
And we'll conquer them all
We will conquer them all
Oh I will conquer them all (x3)
The trigger on my gun
You're the sandbank in the ocean
Oxygen in my blood
You're the fastest of the fish
You're the prickliest pear
You're a chameleon in the night
You're the sahara's sun glare
You're my mind's rest
You're the strings on my guitar
You're the wax in my moustache
The keys to my car
You're the magical mermaid's hollowed illusion
You cool them, fool them
And they hope so much
And you let them down
And you watch from your rock
And your heart beats fast as you watch their's stop
I will keep on loving
'Cos I believe in love
I don't mind dying
If you follow me up
Your victory's your defeat
Your head above your heart
Only the brave surrender
Death cannot tear us apart
Well my smile is wider
Than your's when we meet
And the winter is colder
For me underneath
And I know that you glow
From the inside out
You can keep it for yourself
And I'll go without
You are the fire and I'm the chimney
You'll burn away and I'll choke on your memory
All the words, my sense, you're the poet to my pen
You're the dream that brings the morning sadness
Start the day storm in my head
Well you're the Oscar Wilde short stories in my bookcase
You're positively 4th street isolated in my itunes
You're the word in the dictionary that I can't spell
Can't describe, can't put in a sentence but use all the time
Your own pair of trousers look better on me
The boots of spanish leather
And the bottom of the sea
Every symbol of love that doesn't relate to a meaning
Every feeling, every sensation
Only real when I'm dreaming
I will keep on loving
'Cos I believe in love
I don't mind dying
If you follow me up
Your victory's your defeat
Your head above your heart
Only the brave surrender
Death cannot tear us apart
Well I wish we were animals free of loves games
I wish we were snails with really big shells
I wish I was a lion, I'd be king of the wild
I'd command all the beasts to carry you when you're tired
I'm the elephant in the circus
Oh, you're my trainer
You'd never let me go
But if you did I would stay here
In love there is freedom
But it must be returned
There must be sacrifice
Love must be learnt
A donkey, a mule, a lifetime of work
In death he rests his head from his reins
No burden to bare but work left him lame
And the lion on the mountain chased from his pride
His lioness stolen, his rival survives
The sound of his cubs in death are dim
He knows his world well, no pain can defeat him
Wild horses in the wilderness
Will know no journey home
Well my love is locked in chains
The lion walks alone
Oh the lion walks alone
Nature is cruel
But he knows it's his home
He to his demons
And you to your own
Please let me stand by you
And we'll conquer them all
We will conquer them all
Oh I will conquer them all (x3)
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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I Absolutely love this song.
It's like he's trying to describe something thats impossible to completely describe.
And i love all the Bob Dylan references in there- Boots of Spanish Leather, Positively 4th Street....
Love.