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.
Adrift again 2000 man
You lost your maps,
You lost the plans
Did you hear them yell,
Land damn it land?
You say you can't
Well I hope you can
I hope you can
How's it goin 2000 man?
Welcome back to solid ground my friend
I heard all your controls were jammed
Well it's just nice to have you back again
But I guess they still don't understand
And they can never understand
And they said go find 2000 man
And they said tell him we've got new plans
But instead I'm here to tell you friend
I believe they want you to give in
Are you giving in 2000 man?
(Did you love this world
And did this world not love you?)
Are you giving in 2000 man?
Don't give in 2000 man
You lost your maps,
You lost the plans
Did you hear them yell,
Land damn it land?
You say you can't
Well I hope you can
I hope you can
How's it goin 2000 man?
Welcome back to solid ground my friend
I heard all your controls were jammed
Well it's just nice to have you back again
But I guess they still don't understand
And they can never understand
And they said go find 2000 man
And they said tell him we've got new plans
But instead I'm here to tell you friend
I believe they want you to give in
Are you giving in 2000 man?
(Did you love this world
And did this world not love you?)
Are you giving in 2000 man?
Don't give in 2000 man
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Davey Jones got it.
This song is a reflection on "2,000 Man" by The Rolling Stones.
The Stones' song illustrates "2,000 Man" as a man so into elements of the future, technology, and his career that he loses site of humanity and the tangible things that keep us grounded on this planet - our family, our children, etc.
It ends with thought of 2,000 Man having two options to continue his life... live self-absorbed in his career and technology, or "come down crashing" after recognizing and owning up to the neglect, and heartbreak he caused.
Read these lyrics, then read Grandaddy's lyrics again, and maybe a little about the band.
Grandaddy picks up with 2000 Man returning to earth after all his fuck ups, and still feeling lost, disconnected, and misunderstood.
From there, the interpretation of Grandaddy's purpose behind the song is arguable.
I tend to think while the Stones provided perspective for the listener that 2000 Man could not see, Grandaddy's style is a more introspective. It shows 2,000 man trying to reground himself, and how he feels like his intentions weren't received, feeling used and betrayed by his peers and society's expectations.
A major theme to the Sophtware Slump is technology's effect on modern society. It was released in 2000, and this is the opening track for the concept album.
Good stuff.