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.
How sad are we?
And how sad have we been?
We'll let you know
We'll let you know
Oh, but only if, you're really interested
You wonder how
We've stayed alive 'till now
We'll let you know
We'll let you know
But only if, you're really interested
We're all smiles
Then, honest, I swear, it's the turnstiles
That make us hostile
Oh
We will descend
On anyone unable to defend
Themselves
Oh
And the songs we sing
They're not supposed to mean a thing
La, la, la, la
Oh
You're lonely
Oh, you're lonely
Oh
Get off the roof!
Oh
Your arsenal!
We may seem cold, or
We may even be
The most depressing people you've ever known
At heart, what's left, we sadly know
That we are the last truly British people you'll ever know
We are the last truly British people you will ever know
You'll never never want to know
And how sad have we been?
We'll let you know
We'll let you know
Oh, but only if, you're really interested
You wonder how
We've stayed alive 'till now
We'll let you know
We'll let you know
But only if, you're really interested
We're all smiles
Then, honest, I swear, it's the turnstiles
That make us hostile
Oh
We will descend
On anyone unable to defend
Themselves
Oh
And the songs we sing
They're not supposed to mean a thing
La, la, la, la
Oh
You're lonely
Oh, you're lonely
Oh
Get off the roof!
Oh
Your arsenal!
We may seem cold, or
We may even be
The most depressing people you've ever known
At heart, what's left, we sadly know
That we are the last truly British people you'll ever know
We are the last truly British people you will ever know
You'll never never want to know
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
We'll Let You Know Lyrics as written by Whyte Morrissey
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I don't know that he's a "massive" football fan, but you can tell he's a bit obsessed about hooliganism which was at its height in the 80s. He's always wearing a West Ham shirt at live concerts, but he says he supports Manchester United.
BTW, "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", the song from Oi! band Cockney Rejects, has been played countless times on his "pre-concert" tape mixes. That song is the main chant of West Ham supporters who are famous for being one of the most violent in the country.