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 just remembered that time at the market
You snuck up behind me and jumped on my shopping cart
And rode down aisle 5
You looked behind you and smiled back at me
Crashed into a rack full of magazines
They asked us if we could leave
Can't remember what went wrong last September
Though I'm sure you'd remind me if you had to
Our love was comfortable and so broken in
I sleep with this new girl I'm still getting used to
My friends all approve, say she's gonna be good for me
They throw me high fives
She says the Bible is all that she reads
And prefers that I not use profanity
Your mouth was so dirty
Life of the party
And she swears that she's artsy
But you could distinguish Miles from Coltrain
Our love was comfortable and so broken in
She's perfect
So flawless
Or so they say, hey
Say, hey
She thinks I can't see the smile that she's faking
The poses for pictures that aren't being taken
I loved you
Gray sweat pants
No makeup
So perfect
Our love was comfortable and so broken in
She's perfect
so flawless
I'm not impressed
I want you back
You snuck up behind me and jumped on my shopping cart
And rode down aisle 5
You looked behind you and smiled back at me
Crashed into a rack full of magazines
They asked us if we could leave
Can't remember what went wrong last September
Though I'm sure you'd remind me if you had to
Our love was comfortable and so broken in
I sleep with this new girl I'm still getting used to
My friends all approve, say she's gonna be good for me
They throw me high fives
She says the Bible is all that she reads
And prefers that I not use profanity
Your mouth was so dirty
Life of the party
And she swears that she's artsy
But you could distinguish Miles from Coltrain
Our love was comfortable and so broken in
She's perfect
So flawless
Or so they say, hey
Say, hey
She thinks I can't see the smile that she's faking
The poses for pictures that aren't being taken
I loved you
Gray sweat pants
No makeup
So perfect
Our love was comfortable and so broken in
She's perfect
so flawless
I'm not impressed
I want you back
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absolutely an amazing song...of course what songs of mayer's are not amazing? so much passion that it leaps out right out at you and grabs you and says "listen to me!"