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.
Whatever she wants from me
Whatever device
Whether in kindness
Whether in spite
What can I say
What can I do I can't help myself
I let the monster through
Wherever she sends me
Wherever the plane
Perfect black dress
Perfect grave
What can I say
What can I do
I did it to myself
I did it all confused
Jesus online
Wires around the world
Feel invincible
Computer car and girl
Jesus online
Wires around the world
Feel invincible
To be perfect just like you
To be perfect just like you
Whenever she comes with me
Whenever we break
Dress up my apathy
Pretend we're great, great, great
Jesus online
Arms around the world
Feel invincible
Computer carbon girl
Jesus online, Jesus online
Jesus, Jesus, Jesusâ?¦
Whatever device
Whether in kindness
Whether in spite
What can I say
What can I do I can't help myself
I let the monster through
Wherever she sends me
Wherever the plane
Perfect black dress
Perfect grave
What can I say
What can I do
I did it to myself
I did it all confused
Jesus online
Wires around the world
Feel invincible
Computer car and girl
Jesus online
Wires around the world
Feel invincible
To be perfect just like you
To be perfect just like you
Whenever she comes with me
Whenever we break
Dress up my apathy
Pretend we're great, great, great
Jesus online
Arms around the world
Feel invincible
Computer carbon girl
Jesus online, Jesus online
Jesus, Jesus, Jesusâ?¦
Lyrics submitted by Moondragon
Jesus Online Lyrics as written by Gavin Rossdale
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
This is one of my favourite Bush songs. And I think it´s message is clearer than any other songs gavin had wrote. Targeter is quite right. Every line makes much sense that rossdale is speaking about our post-modern way of life, with the huge consumist exitence that fill our lives:
Verse 1 is about letting this big machine enter your head and starting to control you, hence "I let the monster through"
Verse 2 is just about the same as verse 1 but more detailed, like perfect black dress, perfect grave. Even in death, the glamour, the big companies wantsyour money.
Chorus is such more clear: "feel invincible, computer, car anf girl", all the things that makes you a perfect citizen, a fucking yuppie that reduces his life on to this sort of materialism thinking lines like "pretend we´re great" or "dress my apathy" is like, no matter who you really are and what you feel, whar really matters is how society looks you, how they conceive, and you have to be a cool fucking bastard.
Finally, the reference to "jesus" is that everything is for sale, you want something, you buy it, it doesn´t matter, if you got the money, you have it. "She" is the huge system that controls everything. Well, that is my interpretation, maybe not correct.
@beatakeshi 100% agree…I would like to add that when u take the time to read/ understand the lyrics of bush in order, which is a daunting task, I believe it’s possible he sold his soul without realizing it perhaps from a drug addiction. Most of his lyrics are poetic yet tell a story and Gavin uses his abilities that he may have received from an evil source in order to gain fame. What’s awesome is that he seems to know he is doomed now that he has seen the spiritual warfare for its simplicity (good vs. evil) and no matter what he is deemed to hell, his poetic lyrics are repentance for this sin. He is trying to do as much good as he possibly can within his contract. I have always been obsessed with razor blade suitcase growing up and tried so hard to understand the lyrics…and finally as I awaken and age I can understand and feel the meaning! Reading the Bible has ultimately brought me to this conclusion so many parallels AMAZING!