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.
Tavern in hole outside of Ventura
When low and behold, found a beauty
Said i never seen a redhead crumble just like that
She sat outside, got something to see
We walked a quiet road for miles at first
Couldn't see a thing
The rattle from the dark chills up my spine
coming from the trees
Oh, that's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton, marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies up ahead
That's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies in a fog internally
Must've passed out when i came to Montana
To my surprise about a young lady
As her face grew sick, her nails tore round my heart
Blood trickled down, economically
The laughter from the dark was low at first
But the king could cover me
I recognize the stench of burning flesh
as they began to feed.
Oh, on Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton, marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies up ahead
That's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies in a fog internally
Oh the horror, running's not the way to fall in love
Oh the horror, running's not the way to fall in love
That's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton, marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies up ahead
That's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies in a fog internally
When low and behold, found a beauty
Said i never seen a redhead crumble just like that
She sat outside, got something to see
We walked a quiet road for miles at first
Couldn't see a thing
The rattle from the dark chills up my spine
coming from the trees
Oh, that's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton, marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies up ahead
That's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies in a fog internally
Must've passed out when i came to Montana
To my surprise about a young lady
As her face grew sick, her nails tore round my heart
Blood trickled down, economically
The laughter from the dark was low at first
But the king could cover me
I recognize the stench of burning flesh
as they began to feed.
Oh, on Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton, marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies up ahead
That's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies in a fog internally
Oh the horror, running's not the way to fall in love
Oh the horror, running's not the way to fall in love
That's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton, marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies up ahead
That's Reagan's skeleton in the moonlight
Don't fear the red eyes, fear the satellites overhead
That's Reagan's skeleton marching our way
Sentimental violence, leading their zombies in a fog internally
Lyrics submitted by brian, edited by yumayuma, kumokasumi
Reagan's Skeleton Lyrics as written by Christopher E Keating Anand Mathew Wilder
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
Live version here clarifies a couple lines: youtube.com/watch