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.
Ma said, I ain't right
Clutching on you all night
But you're my, you're my guy, Elvis
Slice my starry eye
Light his coat in turpentine
Kill the bitch that bats an eye, Elvis
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
Hold your frame, whisper your name
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
And you don't breathe, so you can't leave
And they're comin'
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
(Touch) Shackled arms are tight, cause' papa said I cross the line
Carve us in our special time, Elvis
Now it's five by five
Finger paint and circle time
I love you till the day I die, Elvis
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
Hold your frame, whisper your name
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
And you don't breathe, so you can't leave
And they're comin'
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
Hold you by the frame, whisper your name
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
And you don't breathe, so you can't leave
And they're comin'
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
And they're comin' (When I feel your velvet, I can't help it)
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
And they're comin' (When I feel your velvet, I can't help it)
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
Clutching on you all night
But you're my, you're my guy, Elvis
Slice my starry eye
Light his coat in turpentine
Kill the bitch that bats an eye, Elvis
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
Hold your frame, whisper your name
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
And you don't breathe, so you can't leave
And they're comin'
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
(Touch) Shackled arms are tight, cause' papa said I cross the line
Carve us in our special time, Elvis
Now it's five by five
Finger paint and circle time
I love you till the day I die, Elvis
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
Hold your frame, whisper your name
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
And you don't breathe, so you can't leave
And they're comin'
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
Hold you by the frame, whisper your name
When I feel your velvet, I can't help it
And you don't breathe, so you can't leave
And they're comin'
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
And they're comin' (When I feel your velvet, I can't help it)
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
And they're comin' (When I feel your velvet, I can't help it)
They're comin'
They're comin'
Whoaa no
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So this song is great because if you're not paying attention, it sounds like a really sweet love song where the girl refers to her boyfriend as her velvet Elvis.
And then you read the lyrics and SHIT BRIX.
This song is literally about a velvet Elvis. This is an old fad; it was a framed painting of Elvis painted on black velvet. She's literally singing about a picture of Elvis that she is in love with, and seems to believe is real/alive ("Kill the bitch that bats at eye at Elvis").
More ridiculously, her dad appears to walk in on her while she's masturbating using the picture ("Papa said I cross the line/Caught us in our special time, Elvis").
And then she's sent to an asylum. Holy shit. "Shackled arms are tight" <-- she's in restraints "Now it's five by five" <-- she's living in the psych ward's little room now "Finger paint and circle time" <-- Normal activities you do in a psych ward
Additionally, the chorus of "They're comin'/They're comin'/They're comin'/Oh no!" I think is either her being super paranoid that people want her Elvis, or this just might be referring to professionals/her parents coming to take her away to the hospital.
Basically, this song fucking ROCKS.
I'm not sure about masturbation I could be wrong but the lyrics say "carve" not "caught" now they could be wrong. But it seems like she "crossed the line" when she "Light his coat in turpentine" and something about "slicing" not sure what that means yet, but it seems she was put away because she got violent about his love.<br />
The cross the line was after her dad found them, so it doesn't make sense that it would relate to the "light his coat in turpentine". The "slice my starry eye" is just a reference to a song by the Pixies. Aaaand the lyrics on here are wrong, she is actually saying "caught" and not "carve".
you identified the rest of the pieces so well. Salute!<br />