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.
They ask me why I’m hateful, why I’m bad. They tell me I got
things they never had. They tell me go to church and see the light.
Cos the good lord’s always right.
Well, so what, so what
So what if Jesus died on the cross. So what about the fucker, I
don’t give a toss. So what if the master walked on the water. I
don’t see him trying to stop the slaughter.
They say I wouldn’t have to live from bins. If I would go along,
confess my sins. They say I shouldn’t commit no crime. Cos
Jesus Christ is watching all the time.
So what, so what.
So what if he’s always over my shoulder. I realise the truth as I
get older. I get to see what a con it is. Because it’s my life, mine
not his.
We’ll they say they’re going to send me away. Said they’re going
to make me pay. We’re sorry but you have to go. You were
naughty, you said ‘NO’.
So what, so what.
So what if I see through the lies. So what if the people I despise
twist my arm and make me work, I’m no deaf, dumb fucking Jerk.
I’m no spastic lying in the street. I’m no superstar elite. I’m just a
person, a human being.
NO YOU’RE NOT YOU’RE A PART OF OUR MACHINE.
You’re a part of our machine because we want you to be. We’ve
got you now and you’ll never be free. We can even have your
body after you’re dead. We can take the eyes out of your fucking
head. Yes we’ll take them out, use them again. We can do it you
know cos we’ve got your brain. We’ll crucify you like we crucified
him. We’ll make you obey our every whim. We got the power, the
power and the glory. I’ve heard that before in a different story.
But the story I heard covered up the truth, didn’t touch on the
actual factual proof. Didn’t say about the bodies in the
concentration camps, didn’t say about the surgeon knives
underneath the lamps, doesn’t say that the ovens are still warm,
doesn’t say that this wretched little form is a human being who
wants to live but not in the snot and shit they give.
They say that I had better keep quiet or they’re gonna douse my
light. Jesus Christ can save my life, but I can always use my
knife.
So what, so what, so what, so what, so what, so what, SO WHAT
things they never had. They tell me go to church and see the light.
Cos the good lord’s always right.
Well, so what, so what
So what if Jesus died on the cross. So what about the fucker, I
don’t give a toss. So what if the master walked on the water. I
don’t see him trying to stop the slaughter.
They say I wouldn’t have to live from bins. If I would go along,
confess my sins. They say I shouldn’t commit no crime. Cos
Jesus Christ is watching all the time.
So what, so what.
So what if he’s always over my shoulder. I realise the truth as I
get older. I get to see what a con it is. Because it’s my life, mine
not his.
We’ll they say they’re going to send me away. Said they’re going
to make me pay. We’re sorry but you have to go. You were
naughty, you said ‘NO’.
So what, so what.
So what if I see through the lies. So what if the people I despise
twist my arm and make me work, I’m no deaf, dumb fucking Jerk.
I’m no spastic lying in the street. I’m no superstar elite. I’m just a
person, a human being.
NO YOU’RE NOT YOU’RE A PART OF OUR MACHINE.
You’re a part of our machine because we want you to be. We’ve
got you now and you’ll never be free. We can even have your
body after you’re dead. We can take the eyes out of your fucking
head. Yes we’ll take them out, use them again. We can do it you
know cos we’ve got your brain. We’ll crucify you like we crucified
him. We’ll make you obey our every whim. We got the power, the
power and the glory. I’ve heard that before in a different story.
But the story I heard covered up the truth, didn’t touch on the
actual factual proof. Didn’t say about the bodies in the
concentration camps, didn’t say about the surgeon knives
underneath the lamps, doesn’t say that the ovens are still warm,
doesn’t say that this wretched little form is a human being who
wants to live but not in the snot and shit they give.
They say that I had better keep quiet or they’re gonna douse my
light. Jesus Christ can save my life, but I can always use my
knife.
So what, so what, so what, so what, so what, so what, SO WHAT
Lyrics submitted by krushzed
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this is the first real song the band ever wrote. after steve read penny's 30-page book 'reality asylum' (which was later shortened into a spoken word piece), he went away and came back to penny a few hours later with 'so what?'. so the two of them started writing songs together and recording them and soon some of their friends and some people staying in penny's commune joined and stormtrooper was formed, which became crass.