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.
The atmosphere
On the streets tonight
Is the driving beat
Of the world.
The word down here
On the streets tonight
Is the truest music
You've heard.
So take your share
Of the gifts that are there,
They all belong to you
And, come what may,
At the break of each day,
We all begin anew once more.
We all begin anew
[Chorus]
Baby, baby, baby
Let's investigate
The other side of life tonight.
The lovers and the fighters
And the risks they take
Are on the other side of life tonight.
Let's lose our way,
Go completely astray
And find ourselves again.
You know the only way to get there
Is to take that step
To the other side of life tonight.
The atmosphere
On the streets tonight
Is the driving beat
Of the world.
The word down here
On the streets tonight
Is the truest music
You've heard.
So take your share
Of the gifts that are there,
They all belong to you
And, come what may,
At the break of each day,
We all begin anew once more.
We all begin anew
[Chorus]
Let's lose our way,
Go completely astray
And find ourselves again.
You know the only way to get there
Is to take that step
To the other side of life tonight.
On the streets tonight
Is the driving beat
Of the world.
The word down here
On the streets tonight
Is the truest music
You've heard.
So take your share
Of the gifts that are there,
They all belong to you
And, come what may,
At the break of each day,
We all begin anew once more.
We all begin anew
[Chorus]
Baby, baby, baby
Let's investigate
The other side of life tonight.
The lovers and the fighters
And the risks they take
Are on the other side of life tonight.
Let's lose our way,
Go completely astray
And find ourselves again.
You know the only way to get there
Is to take that step
To the other side of life tonight.
The atmosphere
On the streets tonight
Is the driving beat
Of the world.
The word down here
On the streets tonight
Is the truest music
You've heard.
So take your share
Of the gifts that are there,
They all belong to you
And, come what may,
At the break of each day,
We all begin anew once more.
We all begin anew
[Chorus]
Let's lose our way,
Go completely astray
And find ourselves again.
You know the only way to get there
Is to take that step
To the other side of life tonight.
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
The Other Side of Life Lyrics as written by Justin Hayward
Lyrics © Fintage House Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Here, take this. Let's take a TRIP together. We will be back in the morning. Like so many of the Moody Blues songs, another "trip around the Bay".
L yrics S ay D rugs