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 know that I can't have it all
But without you I am afraid I'll fall
I know I'm playing with your heart
And I could treat you better but I'm not that smart
When it comes to love, you're an easy fight
A flower in a gun, a bird in flight
It isn't fair and it isn't right
To lead you on like it's all alright
I played with your heart
And I could treat you better but I'm not that smart
You still mean everything to me
To me
But I wanna be free
I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you (I'll ruin you)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
It's difficult to move on
When nothing was right and nothing's wrong
You still can't look me in the eye
'Cause you've been bitten once and now you're twice as shy
I've had my share of beautiful men
But I'm still young and I wanna love again
It's difficult to say goodbye
And easier to live a lover's lie
And I've tried to say
Babe, I'm gonna ruin you if you let me stay
You still mean everything to me,
To me
But I wanna be free
I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you (I'll ruin you)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
It doesn't feel right and it doesn't feel fair
When I'm planning to move on and you're still standing there
Don't wanna keep a secret but I don't know how to keep it fair, yeah
I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you (I'll ruin you)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)
But I don't wanna say goodbye
But, baby, I don't wanna lie
To lie, to lie to you
I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
But without you I am afraid I'll fall
I know I'm playing with your heart
And I could treat you better but I'm not that smart
When it comes to love, you're an easy fight
A flower in a gun, a bird in flight
It isn't fair and it isn't right
To lead you on like it's all alright
I played with your heart
And I could treat you better but I'm not that smart
You still mean everything to me
To me
But I wanna be free
I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you (I'll ruin you)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
It's difficult to move on
When nothing was right and nothing's wrong
You still can't look me in the eye
'Cause you've been bitten once and now you're twice as shy
I've had my share of beautiful men
But I'm still young and I wanna love again
It's difficult to say goodbye
And easier to live a lover's lie
And I've tried to say
Babe, I'm gonna ruin you if you let me stay
You still mean everything to me,
To me
But I wanna be free
I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you (I'll ruin you)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
It doesn't feel right and it doesn't feel fair
When I'm planning to move on and you're still standing there
Don't wanna keep a secret but I don't know how to keep it fair, yeah
I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you (I'll ruin you)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)
But I don't wanna say goodbye
But, baby, I don't wanna lie
To lie, to lie to you
I'm a ruin
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Lyrics submitted by dlsfjdsfdsfsadfd
I'm a Ruin Lyrics as written by Marina Lambrini Diamandis
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love this song so much, it's definitely one of my favorite songs off of FROOT.
She's basically saying that she wants to be with this guy, but she knows that she'll just end up breaking his heart. This guy has a hard time moving on from her because he without a doubt loves her and she feels guilty because she betrayed his trust, went behind his back, and knows she doesn't deserve his love. She is telling him "I need to leave you and move on because if you let me stay with you, I'm going to just end up ruining you."