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.
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
That's my soul up there
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
That's my soul up there
There's a blue whale beached by a springtime's ebb
That's my soul up there
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
And there's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack
There's a black-winged gull with a broken back
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the queen of pain
Queen of pain
I'll always be queen of pain
I'll always be queen of pain
It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
That's my soul up there
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
That's my soul up there
There's a blue whale beached by a springtime's ebb
That's my soul up there
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
And there's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack
There's a black-winged gull with a broken back
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the queen of pain
Queen of pain
I'll always be queen of pain
I'll always be queen of pain
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The meaning behind this song is clear; the way she handled it was amazing. I love the switch to 'Queen' of Pain at the end.
I'll always be QUEEN of pain.
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Everything you say is old news to us.
Kinda like THE REVELATOR, in the Holy Bible. What was his name, again? Haha. God directly and specifically told him what was going to happen. I'm sure it was just a coincidence his name was john. 😇 I AM God's Angel...... and your worst nightmare, darling. 😂
@ImYourTerror <br /> Seems ta' me he was too dumb/deaf and blind to realize GOD (very) clearly gave him a prophecy of his ULTIMATE downfall. Pass the popcorn, with a side of ReD hots, twiZzlers and SnicKeRS. Maybe Kit KatS, too.
@ImYourTerror <br /> Excuse me, waiter.. I need MINE to be piping hot. <br /> <br /> *You won't understand that now. Just remember it for later, though. You'll understand it then.
@ImYourTerror Oh yes it has become very clear x
The imagery in this song is so rich, almost like bob dylans at certain points. My favourite image is, "theres a black hat caught in a high tree top". To me the hat signifies the head, the mind. And because it is black I see it to be the dark part of your mind, the evil, the depression etc. The idea of it being caught in a high tree top means that it cannot be set free to fly away. So what it means is that you cannot shake this dark part of your mind, it flutters wildly in your head and will not go away.
Este es uno de esos tipos de covers que extrañamente parecerÃan mejor que la versión original. Pero no por el estilo, sino por el cambio de estilo en sÃ.
yea, i'd never really comprehended the lyrics until i just read them. what great imagery, so clever. i think it's talking about all the imperfections in life's greatest, most beautiful creations and the sad, depressing occurances that happen inevitably, like the beached blue whale, ravaged, once beautiful red fox, and the "butterfly caught in a spider's web".
i think she being the "king of pain" (though this is a cover on the police) signifies that she cannot live life without noticing and dwelling on the sad things. in a way i think it's great, because you can't appreciate the beautiful without the ugly and evil.
Love this song and all the takes on life's imperfections and her little irony quotes.
Like the dot on the sun or the frozen salmon or the fossil up on the cliff.
Love this song and all the takes on life's imperfections and her little irony quotes.
Like the dot on the sun or the frozen salmon or the fossil up on the cliff.
This is one of the best covers I've ever heard.
This is one of those songs that to me perfectly describes a feeling I find hard to put into words: How at times, really hard times, you feel detached. Far away from yourself...like you're on the moon just watching the earth in silence. You are so overwhelmed, you just disconnect entirely. You wish someone would rescue you from whatever it is hurting you, but you know you'll always have to go it alone...it's always been that way, and you start feeling like you're the only person who feels that way, like it's some title you hold.
As an aside, I love the play on words with rain/reign, heh.
This is my favorite song. It' so deep and meaningful. I can relate to it in every word.
half of you idiots didn't know this was a cover? geez what the fuck has mankind come to...people who know and love alanis morrisette but not the fucking police.
ashowofhands......ur totally right, alanis morrisette suks and she cant even right her own lyrics, police/sting rock