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.
There's been a lot of talk of love
But that don't amount to nothing
You can invoke the stars above
But that doesn't make it something
And the only way to last
And the only way to live it
Is to hold on when you get love
And let go when you give it, give it
It's a pretty melody
It might help you through the night time
But it doesn't make it easy
To leave the party at the right time
If I'm frightened, if I'm high
It's my weakness, please forgive it
At least I hold on when I get love
And I let go when I give it, give it, give it
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Hold on when you get love)
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Hold on when you get love)
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Let go when you give it)
What do I do?
The world won't listen to this song
And the radio won't play it
But if you like it sing along
Sing 'cause you don't know how to say it
Take the weakest thing in you
And then beat the bastards with it
And always hold on when you get love
So you can let go when you give it
Take the weakest thing in you
And then beat the bastards with it
And always hold on when you get love
So you can let go when you give it, give it, give it
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Hold on when you get love)
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Let go when you give it)
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Hold on when you get love)
What do I do?
I know it's true, at least I think I do
Nothing that you say or do will make you love me
Forget the song (I know that it's true), things will go on
I keep seeing you from the dark with you above me
I know it's true (I know that it's true), at least I think I do
Nothing that you say or do will make you love me
Forget the song (I know that it's true), things will go on
I keep seeing you from the dark with you above me
Take the weakest thing in you
And then beat the bastards with it
And always hold on when you get love,
So you can let go when you give it.
Give it, give it, give it, give it, give it, give it.
But that don't amount to nothing
You can invoke the stars above
But that doesn't make it something
And the only way to last
And the only way to live it
Is to hold on when you get love
And let go when you give it, give it
It's a pretty melody
It might help you through the night time
But it doesn't make it easy
To leave the party at the right time
If I'm frightened, if I'm high
It's my weakness, please forgive it
At least I hold on when I get love
And I let go when I give it, give it, give it
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Hold on when you get love)
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Hold on when you get love)
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Let go when you give it)
What do I do?
The world won't listen to this song
And the radio won't play it
But if you like it sing along
Sing 'cause you don't know how to say it
Take the weakest thing in you
And then beat the bastards with it
And always hold on when you get love
So you can let go when you give it
Take the weakest thing in you
And then beat the bastards with it
And always hold on when you get love
So you can let go when you give it, give it, give it
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Hold on when you get love)
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Let go when you give it)
What do I do when I get lonely?
What do I do?
(Hold on when you get love)
What do I do?
I know it's true, at least I think I do
Nothing that you say or do will make you love me
Forget the song (I know that it's true), things will go on
I keep seeing you from the dark with you above me
I know it's true (I know that it's true), at least I think I do
Nothing that you say or do will make you love me
Forget the song (I know that it's true), things will go on
I keep seeing you from the dark with you above me
Take the weakest thing in you
And then beat the bastards with it
And always hold on when you get love,
So you can let go when you give it.
Give it, give it, give it, give it, give it, give it.
Lyrics submitted by tCiY, edited by Ninjastar, CountNicholas
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Love in a Vacuum
'Til Tuesday
'Til Tuesday
Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
Jesse with the long hair....
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I completely agree with migmol in the previous post regarding the interpretation of the main theme. If I can take it to a spiritual level: Being able to receive unconditional love from God can make you permanently secure/confident/complete/mature enough to give Love without expecting return. In keeping the spiritual vein, God's strength is perfected in our weakness if we rely on him, so God actually does take the weakest thing in us and then use it to beat the bastards (Death, Hate, Hopelessness, Satan, etc). This allows us to then hold on to love and then give it away fully. The Old Book even says God is Love...