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.
Kidding
A figure dressed in the finest attire
That money can buy
Laiden with assets to make an impression
On a stranger's eye
And he lives in a palace
Surrounded by roses in a perfect picture
He's in deep with the shallow
He's fading cause he can't see the sky
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you everything
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you anything
Who are you kidding mister?
I'm so happy that i could sing, yeah
Nobody, you're kidding nobody
Nobody but you
A dinner with twenty people you hate
And they're hating you more
Talking politely, it's all a show
Tell me what is it for?
And your laugh is tale-telling
They follow but you know you're not a funny man
The truth is the meaning
And your life is that you wouldn't have one
If you were poor
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you everything
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you anything
Who are you kidding mister?
I'm so happy that i could sing, yeah
Nobody, you're kidding nobody
Nobody but you
Yeah. . .
Such a shame, sir
Such a shame
Such a shame
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you everything, yeah
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you anything
Who are you kidding mister?
I'm so happy that i could sing, yeah
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody
Nobody but yourself X5
Nobody. . .
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you everything
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you anything
Who are you kidding mister?
I'm so happy that i could sing
Nobody, kidding nobody
Nobody but you
Nobody, kidding nobody
Nobody but you
Nobody, you're kidding nobody
Nobody but you
A figure dressed in the finest attire
That money can buy
Laiden with assets to make an impression
On a stranger's eye
And he lives in a palace
Surrounded by roses in a perfect picture
He's in deep with the shallow
He's fading cause he can't see the sky
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you everything
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you anything
Who are you kidding mister?
I'm so happy that i could sing, yeah
Nobody, you're kidding nobody
Nobody but you
A dinner with twenty people you hate
And they're hating you more
Talking politely, it's all a show
Tell me what is it for?
And your laugh is tale-telling
They follow but you know you're not a funny man
The truth is the meaning
And your life is that you wouldn't have one
If you were poor
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you everything
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you anything
Who are you kidding mister?
I'm so happy that i could sing, yeah
Nobody, you're kidding nobody
Nobody but you
Yeah. . .
Such a shame, sir
Such a shame
Such a shame
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you everything, yeah
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you anything
Who are you kidding mister?
I'm so happy that i could sing, yeah
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody
Nobody but yourself X5
Nobody. . .
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you everything
Who are you kidding mister?
I can give you anything
Who are you kidding mister?
I'm so happy that i could sing
Nobody, kidding nobody
Nobody but you
Nobody, kidding nobody
Nobody but you
Nobody, you're kidding nobody
Nobody but you
Lyrics submitted by Neon_Like
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
It's about a man who is rich and impressionable and has everything money can buy, but he's completely miserable. And then this woman comes into his life, and she is "so happy that she could sing," even though she's not at all rich. And he must be rejecting her, because she keeps repeating, "Who are you kidding? I can give you everything...you're kidding nobody but yourself."