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.
Yankee soldier
He want to shoot some skag
He met it in Cambodia, but now
He can't afford a bag
Yankee dollar talk
To the dictators of the world
In fact it's giving orders
An' they can't afford to miss a word
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
Yankee detectives
Are always on the TV
'Cause killers in America work
Seven days a week
Never mind the stars and stripes
Let's print the Watergate Tapes
I'll salute the New Wave
And I hope nobody escapes
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
Move up, Starsky
For the C.I.A.
Suck on Kojak
For the USA
He want to shoot some skag
He met it in Cambodia, but now
He can't afford a bag
Yankee dollar talk
To the dictators of the world
In fact it's giving orders
An' they can't afford to miss a word
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
Yankee detectives
Are always on the TV
'Cause killers in America work
Seven days a week
Never mind the stars and stripes
Let's print the Watergate Tapes
I'll salute the New Wave
And I hope nobody escapes
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
Move up, Starsky
For the C.I.A.
Suck on Kojak
For the USA
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I saw their final tour in 1984, with Mick Jones having already left the band. They played this as an encore and everyone in the not very radical Denver audience was singing the chorus at the top of their lungs.
Even though it's about the bombardment of American culture overseas, it hits home with disaffected American youths over their own lives as well.