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.
If he was from Venus, would he feed us with a spoon?
If he was from Mars, then that'd be cool
Standing right on campus, would he stamp us in a file?
Hangin' down in Memphis all the while
And children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round
They sing, "I'm in love, what's that song?
Yeah, I'm in love with that song"
Cerebral rape and pillage in a village of his choice
Invisible man who can sing in a visible voice
Feeling like a hundred bucks, exchanging good lucks face to face
Check-checkin' his stash by the trash at St. Mark's Place
And children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round, 'round
They sing, "I'm in love, what's that song?
Well, I'm in love with that song"
I never travel far
Without a little Big Star, ooh-ooh
Runnin' 'round the house, Mickey Louse and tarot cards
Falling asleep with a flop pop video on
And if he was from Venus, would he meet us on the moon?
If he died in Memphis, then that'd be cool, babe
And children by the million wait for Alex Chilton to come around, 'round
They sing, "I'm in love, what's that song?
I'm in love with that song
I'm in love, what's that song?
Yeah, I'm in love with that song"
Oh, come on
If he was from Mars, then that'd be cool
Standing right on campus, would he stamp us in a file?
Hangin' down in Memphis all the while
And children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round
They sing, "I'm in love, what's that song?
Yeah, I'm in love with that song"
Cerebral rape and pillage in a village of his choice
Invisible man who can sing in a visible voice
Feeling like a hundred bucks, exchanging good lucks face to face
Check-checkin' his stash by the trash at St. Mark's Place
And children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round, 'round
They sing, "I'm in love, what's that song?
Well, I'm in love with that song"
I never travel far
Without a little Big Star, ooh-ooh
Runnin' 'round the house, Mickey Louse and tarot cards
Falling asleep with a flop pop video on
And if he was from Venus, would he meet us on the moon?
If he died in Memphis, then that'd be cool, babe
And children by the million wait for Alex Chilton to come around, 'round
They sing, "I'm in love, what's that song?
I'm in love with that song
I'm in love, what's that song?
Yeah, I'm in love with that song"
Oh, come on
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Alex Chilton was a character in a Childrens book series about musical aliens from a solar system called The Big Stars. They landed in Memphis and kidnapped Mel Brooks and forced im to create Spaceballs.
Stay off the drugs.