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 a tear in my lover's eyes
He's at my window, it's a gloomy night
Said he dreamt of God's search light
It remembered his name
Lays his hand gently to my face
Through the promise of wedding lace
And I feel his dark embrace
As my baby, he cries
I'm falling in love
(Don't say goodbye)
I'm falling like a star from above
(Don't say goodbye)
And I finally found my pot of gold
(Don't say goodbye)
And now I can't see just what my heart can hold
But what does it mean?
The bad things that I've seen
He saw angels at his bedroom door
And a body on a checkered floor
There was lightning in his black leather
And it struck out his name
No more tears, baby, please don't cry
I tried to tell him everything is fine
Cross my heart and hope to die
I won't say goodbye
Cause I'm falling in love
(Don't say goodbye)
I'm falling like a star from above
(Don't say goodbye)
And I finally found my pot of gold
(Don't say goodbye)
And now I can't see just what my heart can hold
But what does it mean?
The bad things that I've seen
Oh, what does it mean?
The bad things that I've seen
What does it mean?
The bad things that I've seen
He's at my window, it's a gloomy night
Said he dreamt of God's search light
It remembered his name
Lays his hand gently to my face
Through the promise of wedding lace
And I feel his dark embrace
As my baby, he cries
I'm falling in love
(Don't say goodbye)
I'm falling like a star from above
(Don't say goodbye)
And I finally found my pot of gold
(Don't say goodbye)
And now I can't see just what my heart can hold
But what does it mean?
The bad things that I've seen
He saw angels at his bedroom door
And a body on a checkered floor
There was lightning in his black leather
And it struck out his name
No more tears, baby, please don't cry
I tried to tell him everything is fine
Cross my heart and hope to die
I won't say goodbye
Cause I'm falling in love
(Don't say goodbye)
I'm falling like a star from above
(Don't say goodbye)
And I finally found my pot of gold
(Don't say goodbye)
And now I can't see just what my heart can hold
But what does it mean?
The bad things that I've seen
Oh, what does it mean?
The bad things that I've seen
What does it mean?
The bad things that I've seen
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!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
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
Show Me a Little Shame
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
He certainly did earn that reputation.
Step
Ministry
Ministry
Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
"Joe's Dream" is where the bride's lover comes to her the night before the marriage and explains that he had a foreboding dream or message that something bad is gonna happen.
Source: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p040m8f6