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'm workin' on a building,
I'm workin' on a building,
I'm workin' on a building,
For my Lord, for my Lord.
If IIIIIIIIIIIIII were a drunkard,
Tell you what I'd do,
I'd quit my drinkin',
And work on a building too.
Chorus:
I'm workin' on a building,
I'm workin' on a building,
I'm workin' on a building,
For my Lord, for my Lord.
It'a a Holy Ghost building,
It'a a Holy Ghost building,
It'a a Holy Ghost building,
For my Lord, for my Lord.
If IIIIIIIIIIIIII were a gambler,
Tell you what I'd do,
I'd quit my gamblin',
And I'd work on a building too.
[Chorus]
If IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII were a preacher,
Tell you what I'd do,
I'd keep on preachin',
And I'd work on a building too.
[Chorus x3]
I'm workin' on a building,
I'm workin' on a building,
For my Lord, for my Lord.
If IIIIIIIIIIIIII were a drunkard,
Tell you what I'd do,
I'd quit my drinkin',
And work on a building too.
Chorus:
I'm workin' on a building,
I'm workin' on a building,
I'm workin' on a building,
For my Lord, for my Lord.
It'a a Holy Ghost building,
It'a a Holy Ghost building,
It'a a Holy Ghost building,
For my Lord, for my Lord.
If IIIIIIIIIIIIII were a gambler,
Tell you what I'd do,
I'd quit my gamblin',
And I'd work on a building too.
[Chorus]
If IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII were a preacher,
Tell you what I'd do,
I'd keep on preachin',
And I'd work on a building too.
[Chorus x3]
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Workin' on a Building Lyrics as written by David Freiberg Craig Chaquico
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate