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.
Took a city like New Orleans
To kill a man like Johnny Thunders
A man who died with his guitar in his hands
And all those young girls are cryin', cryin'
"Why, why, why Johnny Thunders?" cryin'
"Why, why, why Johnny Thunders?"
But I say
"Go, go, go Johnny Thunders", I say
"Go, go, go Johnny Thunders", took a
Took a city like New Orleans
To kill a man
Like Johnny
Like Johnny
Thunders
Thunders
And their very next song, it was gonna be a hit
It was gonna be a hit
And their very next song it was gonna be a hit
And all those young girls
That had Johnny's picture up on their bedroom walls
They clipped them out of the magazines
They were cryin'
"Why, why, why Johnny Thunders?", cryin'
"Why, why, why Johnny Thunders?"
But I say something different
I say
"Go, go, go Johnny Thunders", I say
"Go, go, go Johnny Thunders", took a
Took a city like New Orleans
To kill a man
Like Johnny
To kill a man like Johnny Thunders
A man who died with his guitar in his hands
And all those young girls are cryin', cryin'
"Why, why, why Johnny Thunders?" cryin'
"Why, why, why Johnny Thunders?"
But I say
"Go, go, go Johnny Thunders", I say
"Go, go, go Johnny Thunders", took a
Took a city like New Orleans
To kill a man
Like Johnny
Like Johnny
Thunders
Thunders
And their very next song, it was gonna be a hit
It was gonna be a hit
And their very next song it was gonna be a hit
And all those young girls
That had Johnny's picture up on their bedroom walls
They clipped them out of the magazines
They were cryin'
"Why, why, why Johnny Thunders?", cryin'
"Why, why, why Johnny Thunders?"
But I say something different
I say
"Go, go, go Johnny Thunders", I say
"Go, go, go Johnny Thunders", took a
Took a city like New Orleans
To kill a man
Like Johnny
Lyrics submitted by pnkdaffodil, edited by McJeff
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Is this just a story they made up, or is it really about someone who was really actually killed?