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 set all my regrets on fire
Cause I know I'll never take the time
To unpack my missteps and call all of our friends
I figure they would take your side
I make the bed, just not that well
Your name comes up a lot
When I talk to my mom
Oh, I think she can tell
I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I'm causing a scene, thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There's no one to keep me warm
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
So maybe I should put up a fight
I'll call them back and borrow a box knife
So I can learn to live with all the stupid shit I've been doing since ninety nine
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more strong
But I'm waiting for the day you come back and say
"Hey, maybe I should change my mind"
I drink a lot
I'm not sure if that's new
But these days when I wake up from a night I forgot
I just wish that it never came true
I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I'm causing a scene, thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There's no one to keep me warm
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more strong
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more clever
I knew there would come a day when all was said and done (And I know I could be more clever)
Everything I was is everything but gone (And I know I could be more strong)
All my big mistakes are bouncing off your wall (And I know I could be more clever)
The bottles never break, the sorrow never comes (And I know I could be more clever)
So come on let me in, I will be the sun (And I know I could be more clever)
I will wake you up, I am who I was (And I know I could be more strong)
Just open up your heart, open up your heart, open up your heart (And I know I could be more clever)
I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I'm causing a scene, thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There's no one to keep me warm
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Cause I know I'll never take the time
To unpack my missteps and call all of our friends
I figure they would take your side
I make the bed, just not that well
Your name comes up a lot
When I talk to my mom
Oh, I think she can tell
I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I'm causing a scene, thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There's no one to keep me warm
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
So maybe I should put up a fight
I'll call them back and borrow a box knife
So I can learn to live with all the stupid shit I've been doing since ninety nine
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more strong
But I'm waiting for the day you come back and say
"Hey, maybe I should change my mind"
I drink a lot
I'm not sure if that's new
But these days when I wake up from a night I forgot
I just wish that it never came true
I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I'm causing a scene, thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There's no one to keep me warm
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more strong
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more clever
I knew there would come a day when all was said and done (And I know I could be more clever)
Everything I was is everything but gone (And I know I could be more strong)
All my big mistakes are bouncing off your wall (And I know I could be more clever)
The bottles never break, the sorrow never comes (And I know I could be more clever)
So come on let me in, I will be the sun (And I know I could be more clever)
I will wake you up, I am who I was (And I know I could be more strong)
Just open up your heart, open up your heart, open up your heart (And I know I could be more clever)
I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I'm causing a scene, thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There's no one to keep me warm
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Lyrics submitted by smileforthecamera, edited by Mellow_Harsher, brechtsky, gunflair, Alayala, Keurlyn
Out on the Town [Bonus Track] Lyrics as written by Jack Antonoff Andrew Dost
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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:)
Thanks for the corrections.