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.
If I go, before I'm old
Oh brother of mine please don't forget me, if I go
Bartender please
Fill my glass for me
With the wine you gave Jesus, that set him free
After three days in the ground
Oh, and if I die, before my time
Oh, sweet sister of mine
Please don't regret me, if I die
Bartender, please
Fill my glass for me
With the wine you gave Jesus, that set him free
After three days in the ground
Bartender, please,
Fill my glass for me
With the wine you gave Jesus, that set him free
After three days in the ground
In the ground, watch the light
I'm on bended knees
I pray bartender please
When I was young I didn't think about it
Now I just want to run and hide
I'm on bended knees, father please
Oh, and if all this gold, here, should steal my soul away
Oh, dear mother of mine,
Please redirect me, if this gold
Bartender, you see, the wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung Judas from the Devil's tree
His roots deep, deep in the ground
Bartender, you see, the wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung Judas from the Devil's tree
His roots deep, deep in the ground
In the ground, you watch the light
I'm on bended knees,
Oh, Bartender, please
I'm on bended knees
Father, please
When I was young I didn't think about it
Now I just want to run and hide
I'm on bended knees, oh Bartender, please
Bartender, please
Oh brother of mine please don't forget me, if I go
Bartender please
Fill my glass for me
With the wine you gave Jesus, that set him free
After three days in the ground
Oh, and if I die, before my time
Oh, sweet sister of mine
Please don't regret me, if I die
Bartender, please
Fill my glass for me
With the wine you gave Jesus, that set him free
After three days in the ground
Bartender, please,
Fill my glass for me
With the wine you gave Jesus, that set him free
After three days in the ground
In the ground, watch the light
I'm on bended knees
I pray bartender please
When I was young I didn't think about it
Now I just want to run and hide
I'm on bended knees, father please
Oh, and if all this gold, here, should steal my soul away
Oh, dear mother of mine,
Please redirect me, if this gold
Bartender, you see, the wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung Judas from the Devil's tree
His roots deep, deep in the ground
Bartender, you see, the wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung Judas from the Devil's tree
His roots deep, deep in the ground
In the ground, you watch the light
I'm on bended knees,
Oh, Bartender, please
I'm on bended knees
Father, please
When I was young I didn't think about it
Now I just want to run and hide
I'm on bended knees, oh Bartender, please
Bartender, please
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I just saw dave and the boys preform on friday (august 2nd) it was an awesome set, played alot of great songs (look on his site for the setlist) i wish he would have played "warehouse" and "dancing nancies", but they did play "you never know" and "jimi thing" along with "bartender" and bartender was the highlight of the show! They jammed it out for a good 15 minutes, it was the best song of the night! Boyd was hammering the strings and bouncing all over the stage, Carter was pounding the canvas, Dave was nearly breaking strings, Leroi was turnin blue in the face, and Stefan was playin the hell out of the bass....it was unbelievable!