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.
Too many problems, oh why am I here?
I need to be me, 'cause you're all too clear
And I can see there's something wrong with you
But what do you expect me to do?
At least I gotta know what I wanna be
Don't come to me if you need pity
Are you lonely? You got no one
You get your body in suspension
That's a problem, problem
Problem, the problem is you
Eat your heart out on a plastic tray
You don't do what you want
Then you'll fade away
You won't find me working nine to five
It's too much fun being alive
I'm using my feet for my human machine
You won't find me living for the screen
Are you lonely? All needs catered
You got your brains dehydrated
Problem, problem
Problem, the problem is you
What you gonna do?
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, the problem is you
What you gonna do with your problem?
The problem is you, problem
I ain't equipment, I ain't automatic
You won't find me just staying static
Don't you give me any order
For people like me, there is no order
Bet you thought you had it all worked out
Bet you thought you knew what I was about
Bet you thought you'd solved all your problems
But you are the problem
Problem, problem
Problem, the problem is you
What you gonna do with your problem?
I'll leave it to you
Problem, the problem is you
You got a problem
What you gonna do?
They know a doctor, gonna take you away
They'll take you away and throw away the key
They don't want you and they don't want me
You got a problem, the problem is you
Problem, what you gonna do?
Problem, I'll leave it back
I have a problem, oh you got a problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem, problem
I need to be me, 'cause you're all too clear
And I can see there's something wrong with you
But what do you expect me to do?
At least I gotta know what I wanna be
Don't come to me if you need pity
Are you lonely? You got no one
You get your body in suspension
That's a problem, problem
Problem, the problem is you
Eat your heart out on a plastic tray
You don't do what you want
Then you'll fade away
You won't find me working nine to five
It's too much fun being alive
I'm using my feet for my human machine
You won't find me living for the screen
Are you lonely? All needs catered
You got your brains dehydrated
Problem, problem
Problem, the problem is you
What you gonna do?
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, the problem is you
What you gonna do with your problem?
The problem is you, problem
I ain't equipment, I ain't automatic
You won't find me just staying static
Don't you give me any order
For people like me, there is no order
Bet you thought you had it all worked out
Bet you thought you knew what I was about
Bet you thought you'd solved all your problems
But you are the problem
Problem, problem
Problem, the problem is you
What you gonna do with your problem?
I'll leave it to you
Problem, the problem is you
You got a problem
What you gonna do?
They know a doctor, gonna take you away
They'll take you away and throw away the key
They don't want you and they don't want me
You got a problem, the problem is you
Problem, what you gonna do?
Problem, I'll leave it back
I have a problem, oh you got a problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem
Problem, problem, problem
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Yeah well, just too bad they were never able to record any more music.
Anyway, I think that lyrically this is the best song on Never Mind the Bollocks just because Rotten sums up in this one song, what his entire attitude was. From the title alone it's bound to be cynical, but it's NOT nihilistic because it also presents an individualistic perserverance (when he says "I'm using my feet for my human machine" and "You won't find me just staying static"), which unfortunately is lacking in most of the punk, metal and rap that followed, which only project negativity but not as much self-motivation which could've inspired more people to do something about their problems. No wonder so many kids were doing drugs and killing themselves.
So in that sense, when put together with the slower tempos of the songs it makes the most influential punk band an anomoly in the genre whose attitudes they kick-started.