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.
Here is London, giddy of London
Is it home of the free
Or what?
Can you squeeze me
Into an empty page of your diary
And psychologically save me
I've got faith in you
I sense the power
Within the fingers
Within an hour the power
Could totally destroy me
(Or, it could save my life)
Oh, here is London
"Home of the brash, outrageous and free"
You are repressed
But you're remarkably dressed
Is it real?
And you're always busy
Really busy
Busy, busy
Oh, hairdresser on fire
All around Sloane Square
And you're just so busy
Busy, busy
Busy scissors
Oh, hairdresser on fire
(Only the other day)
Was a client, over-cautious
He made you nervous
And when he said
"I'm gonna sue you"
Oh, I really felt for you
So can you squeeze me
Into an empty page of your diary
And supernaturally change me?
Change me, change
Oh, here in London
"Home of the brash, outrageous and free"
You are repressed
But you're remarkably dressed
Is it real?
And you're always busy
Really busy
Busy clippers
Oh, hairdresser on fire
All around Sloane Square
And you're just too busy
To see me
Busy clippers
Oh, hairdresser on fire
(Only the other day)
Is it home of the free
Or what?
Can you squeeze me
Into an empty page of your diary
And psychologically save me
I've got faith in you
I sense the power
Within the fingers
Within an hour the power
Could totally destroy me
(Or, it could save my life)
Oh, here is London
"Home of the brash, outrageous and free"
You are repressed
But you're remarkably dressed
Is it real?
And you're always busy
Really busy
Busy, busy
Oh, hairdresser on fire
All around Sloane Square
And you're just so busy
Busy, busy
Busy scissors
Oh, hairdresser on fire
(Only the other day)
Was a client, over-cautious
He made you nervous
And when he said
"I'm gonna sue you"
Oh, I really felt for you
So can you squeeze me
Into an empty page of your diary
And supernaturally change me?
Change me, change
Oh, here in London
"Home of the brash, outrageous and free"
You are repressed
But you're remarkably dressed
Is it real?
And you're always busy
Really busy
Busy clippers
Oh, hairdresser on fire
All around Sloane Square
And you're just too busy
To see me
Busy clippers
Oh, hairdresser on fire
(Only the other day)
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I've seen a few people elude to this, and I agree with it, so I'm going to lay it out: I believe this song is about the ways that vanity and attraction intermingle. Someone compared it to a woman marrying her plastic surgeon. That is what it's about. It's about people who are so ...in love, frankly, with their egos that they become attracted to the people who make them proud of themselves/their looks. You could argue that there's an element of this in every relationship. Having a partner who thinks you're beautiful usually makes you feel better about yourself. Some people are addicted to that validation, and need it for the survival of their self esteem.
It's about people who are so addicted to that validation that they literally fall for anyone who makes them look good