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.
It was back in '32 when times were hard
He had a Colt .45 and a deck of cards
Stagger Lee
He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Had a '28 Ford, he had payments on that
Stagger Lee
His woman threw him out in the ice and snow
And she told him, "Never ever come back no more"
Stagger Lee
So he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud
'Til he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood
Stagger Lee
He said "Mr Motherfucker, you know who I am"
The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn"
To Stagger Lee
He said, "Well bartender, it's a plain to see
I'm the bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
Mr. Stagger Lee
Well the barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way
And I kick motherfucking asses like you every day"
Mr Stagger Lee
Well those were the last words that the barkeep said
'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head
Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
Known to make more money than any bitch in town
She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Over to Stagger Lee, she's starting to flirt
Oh, with Stagger Lee
She saw the barkeep, said, "Oh God, he can't be dead!"
Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head"
She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time
Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime"
Mr. Stagger Lee
"But there's something I have to say before you begin
You have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in
Mr. Stagger Lee"
"I'll stay here 'til Billy Dilly comes in, 'til time comes to pass
And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass"
Said Stagger Lee
"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know
And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole"
Said Stagger Lee
Just then Billy Dilly rolls in, he says, "You must be
The mad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
I'm Stagger Lee
"Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees
Then suck my dick, because If you don't you're gonna be dead"
Said Stagger Lee
Well Billy Dilly dropped down and slobbered on his head
And Stag filled him full of lead
Oh yeah
He had a Colt .45 and a deck of cards
Stagger Lee
He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Had a '28 Ford, he had payments on that
Stagger Lee
His woman threw him out in the ice and snow
And she told him, "Never ever come back no more"
Stagger Lee
So he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud
'Til he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood
Stagger Lee
He said "Mr Motherfucker, you know who I am"
The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn"
To Stagger Lee
He said, "Well bartender, it's a plain to see
I'm the bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
Mr. Stagger Lee
Well the barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way
And I kick motherfucking asses like you every day"
Mr Stagger Lee
Well those were the last words that the barkeep said
'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head
Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
Known to make more money than any bitch in town
She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Over to Stagger Lee, she's starting to flirt
Oh, with Stagger Lee
She saw the barkeep, said, "Oh God, he can't be dead!"
Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head"
She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time
Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime"
Mr. Stagger Lee
"But there's something I have to say before you begin
You have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in
Mr. Stagger Lee"
"I'll stay here 'til Billy Dilly comes in, 'til time comes to pass
And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass"
Said Stagger Lee
"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know
And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole"
Said Stagger Lee
Just then Billy Dilly rolls in, he says, "You must be
The mad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
I'm Stagger Lee
"Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees
Then suck my dick, because If you don't you're gonna be dead"
Said Stagger Lee
Well Billy Dilly dropped down and slobbered on his head
And Stag filled him full of lead
Oh yeah
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Stagger Lee is actually a true story, kind of. It's been obviously changed many, many times over the years.
.clearlight.com/~acsa/stagroot.htm