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.
Don't wanna see you again or hold your hand
'Cause you don't really love me, you're not my man
You're not my man, oh you're not my man
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
You scream and shout and you make a scene
When you open your mouth you never say what you mean
Say what you mean, oh say what you mean
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
You drink hard liquor, you come on strong
You lose your temper someone looks at you wrong
Looks at you wrong, oh looks at you wrong
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
Out all night playin in a band
Looking for a fight with a guitar in your hand
A guitar in your hand, oh a guitar in your hand
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
Empty bottles and broken glass
Busted down doors and borrowed cash
Borrowed cash, oh the borrowed cash
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
Looking for someone to save you
Looking for someone to rave about you
To rave about you, oh to rave about you
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
'Cause you don't really love me, you're not my man
You're not my man, oh you're not my man
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
You scream and shout and you make a scene
When you open your mouth you never say what you mean
Say what you mean, oh say what you mean
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
You drink hard liquor, you come on strong
You lose your temper someone looks at you wrong
Looks at you wrong, oh looks at you wrong
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
Out all night playin in a band
Looking for a fight with a guitar in your hand
A guitar in your hand, oh a guitar in your hand
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
Empty bottles and broken glass
Busted down doors and borrowed cash
Borrowed cash, oh the borrowed cash
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
Looking for someone to save you
Looking for someone to rave about you
To rave about you, oh to rave about you
Go back to Greenville, just go on back to Greenville
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Greenville Lyrics as written by Lucinda Williams
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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