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.
Another clown jumps off the lever
A shallow pool but it doesn't matter
The way it goes, the way it goes
It's falling through barriers and hedgerows
Hollow man hollow men proper
Where's the applause when you need them?
But these brought by summer songs and backflips
By Hallowe'en things should be different
A mother lode, a mother lode
Hollow man hollow men brought me
I'm a clown you don't want her to know me
The knife behind the curtain
Your truth is out of their league (Tududututu)
(Tududututu)
Ooh ooh
Ooh ooh (Tududututu)
Can't see a way out of this one
The legs will jerk but nobody listens
At least he tells no lie
The last of all his courage
Press the button for a free ticket
Here he goes, hits the ground running
Tududututu (Ooh)
Tududututu (Ooh)
Ooh ooh
Tududututu (Ooh ah)
Ooh ah ah
A shallow pool but it doesn't matter
The way it goes, the way it goes
It's falling through barriers and hedgerows
Hollow man hollow men proper
Where's the applause when you need them?
But these brought by summer songs and backflips
By Hallowe'en things should be different
A mother lode, a mother lode
Hollow man hollow men brought me
I'm a clown you don't want her to know me
The knife behind the curtain
Your truth is out of their league (Tududututu)
(Tududututu)
Ooh ooh
Ooh ooh (Tududututu)
Can't see a way out of this one
The legs will jerk but nobody listens
At least he tells no lie
The last of all his courage
Press the button for a free ticket
Here he goes, hits the ground running
Tududututu (Ooh)
Tududututu (Ooh)
Ooh ooh
Tududututu (Ooh ah)
Ooh ah ah
Lyrics submitted by sbutros1, edited by smallwonderrobot, Kabumek
The Mother Lode Lyrics as written by Thomas Edward Yorke Nigel Godrich
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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!
This song is about questioning the validity of intention. Everybody lives by truths that only apply to our own personal needs and wants. We are very much like hand puppet clowns. Hence why the "truth is ordinary."
"Are you only being nice because you want something." - The Eraser
"knife behind the curtian", is us.