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.
There is an anger comes off this girl,
That she can't find an origin,
The things I plant won't grow,
Yet the wild weeds flower in wind and snow.
Nothing to be nothing to prove,
Nowhere to go nothing to lose.
When will my season come,
Was I born of infertile soil,
Is my seed without song,
Can I not see the woods for these forests in my head,
Can I not see the sunlight as I play dead?
Nothing to be nothing to prove,
Nowhere to go nothing to lose
That she can't find an origin,
The things I plant won't grow,
Yet the wild weeds flower in wind and snow.
Nothing to be nothing to prove,
Nowhere to go nothing to lose.
When will my season come,
Was I born of infertile soil,
Is my seed without song,
Can I not see the woods for these forests in my head,
Can I not see the sunlight as I play dead?
Nothing to be nothing to prove,
Nowhere to go nothing to lose
Lyrics submitted by Pixi
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This song is about not being able to have children and being infertile.
There is an anger comes off this girl, That she can't find an origin, (she is angry because she can't find the reason why she can't have children)
The things I plant won't grow, (every time she tries to have a child, she ha s a miscarriage so it doesn't grow.
Yet the wild weeds flower in wind and snow. (yet people keep having children and not caring, or having abortions and do not realize how lucky they are to be able to have children)
Nothing to be nothing to prove, Nowhere to go nothing to lose. (if i cant have children i have nothing to live for and nothing to prove to anyone)
When will my season come, (when will it be my turn to have a child?)
Was I born of infertile soil, (was i born of a infertile womb, nothing can grow inside of me)
Is my seed without song, (is my seed without a point, does it have nothing to show)
Can I not see the woods for these forests in my head, (can i not see the structure (woods) for these thoughts/doubts (forests) in my head)
Can I not see the sunlight as I play dead? (i can't see any good in this, i might aswell be dead)
Nothing to be nothing to prove, Nowhere to go nothing to lose
Again, another song I'm using right now in a drama piece for my A-levels. Me and my bloody drama eh?!
Well, the piece is about Huntington's disease, a degenerative disease of the brain. If you want to know more about it, look it up on the net, it's very interesting and extremely sad. I chose this song because HD is a genetic disease and it featured the lyrics 'was I born of infertile soil, is my seed without song.' HD will not be what the song is about, but it's interesting how well the lyrics fit.
Yet the more I researched the disease the more the lyrics fitted.
There is an anger comes off this girl, that she can't find an origin.
One of the early symtoms of HD is aggression.
The things I plant wont grow, yet the wild weeds flower in the wind and snow.
Death for victoms of HD comes early. No matter how hard they try to 'grow', they will never reach the old age that the 'weeds' or people without the disease will, without even having to try 'flower in the wind and snow'.
When will my season come?
Imagine how it must feel to know your death is looming. I know that that would be one of the biggest questions on my mind too.
Was I born of infertile soil, is my seed without song
Genetic disease. Also the knowledge that you could not have children, because if you did you risk leaving them with the same fate.
Can I not see the woods for these forests in my head?
Another early syptom is confusion and frustration
Can I not see the sunlight as I play dead?
Trying to find a ray of hope, when you know in the end, you're heading towards an unpleasant death.
And finally the chorus: Nothing to be, nothing to prove, Nowhere to go, nothing to lose.
Pure desperation.
This song makes me think about something personal that Happened to Katie, although it seems to obvious that it would be what the song's about
Ambient_sunrays... that really is a brilliant interpretation. I mean, you're right, the song probably wasn't about Huntingtons, but looking at the lyrics, it really does fit well. "Pure desperation." It is sad, whatever it's about. It truly is a beautiful song though. I found the lyrics ages ago, but only just heard it today. Katie Jane's voice is mesmerising. And hope your drama piece goes well
Ambient_sunrays, wow amazing i can c now what the song is about. At first i though it was about a girl who tryes to cover up her feelings or mistakes (by flowers) but somehow it never seems to go right and the weeds (bad things) keep comming up.
and the line "Was I born of infertile soil" i thought it was about being like jinxed and doing everything u could to be perfect but no matter how hard u try u will always fail. well thats what i thought
Ambient_sunrays.. you intelligent son of a gun! that is brillant!!! the song may not be about that but it may be about a similar disorder like someone who is dying from something and they can't have children themselves. Gosh Katie Jane is intelligent aswell, so little words, such a big picture on your mind.
I think soulmatesneverdie hit the nail on the head. The song sounds more like it's about not being able to bear children rather than a disease.
To me it's not about being physically barren. I understand that resonates with some, to each their own. I find that too literal though. I think it's about someone trying to find a home, a way of living. She can't find an origin (a root to herself), she can't find a home to call her own, she never can quite settle down and the relationships she attempts to cultivate do not grow. It bothers her deeply, and why is it so seemingly easy for everyone else?
When will her season (of happiness) come? Was she born of infertile soil (doomed to never bloom)? Is her seed without song (does her core of self have no purpose or artistry?) Can she not see the woods for these forests in my head (is it possible happiness is possible, but she's so used to being lost that it's all she can see?) Can she not see the sunlight as she plays dead? (Is she so used to negativity that she's blinkered herself?)
"Nothing to be? Nothing to prove? Nowhere to go? Nothing to lose."