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.
Tony only reads Asian babes
Danny's doing doves on down the raves
Terry drinks his money away
Oh God and his sons play drums all day
On the scene on the dole in your eyes in your soul
The young men
You are the ones are the scene are the sons are the young men
Young men here we here we go again
Les says punk isn't dead
Mick is not impeccably bred
Paul he just can't get out of bed
Oh God and Phil's still off his head
On the scene, on the dole, in your eyes, in your soul,
The young men
You are the ones, are the system, are the sons, are the young men
Young men, here we, here we go again
On the scene, on the dole, in your eyes, in your soul, the young men
You are the ones, are the scene, are the young men
Cheating on the wives, all shiny suits and lazy lies, the young men
Insulting everyone, picked up your sister, kicked your son, the young men
Fighting in the clubs, flash on the streets, cash in the pubs, the young men
Boozing on the train, p-45's and cheap champagne -- the young men
Danny's doing doves on down the raves
Terry drinks his money away
Oh God and his sons play drums all day
On the scene on the dole in your eyes in your soul
The young men
You are the ones are the scene are the sons are the young men
Young men here we here we go again
Les says punk isn't dead
Mick is not impeccably bred
Paul he just can't get out of bed
Oh God and Phil's still off his head
On the scene, on the dole, in your eyes, in your soul,
The young men
You are the ones, are the system, are the sons, are the young men
Young men, here we, here we go again
On the scene, on the dole, in your eyes, in your soul, the young men
You are the ones, are the scene, are the young men
Cheating on the wives, all shiny suits and lazy lies, the young men
Insulting everyone, picked up your sister, kicked your son, the young men
Fighting in the clubs, flash on the streets, cash in the pubs, the young men
Boozing on the train, p-45's and cheap champagne -- the young men
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Young Men Lyrics as written by Richard John Oakes Brett Lewis Anderson
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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