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.
A long, long time ago
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew that if I had my chance
I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
Did you write the book of love?
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
Now do you believe in rock and roll?
And can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancing in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes (both kicked off your shoes)
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues
I was a lonely teenage bronkin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pick-up truck
But I knew that I was out of luck
The day the music died
I started singing
Bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
Well, I went down to the sacred store
Where I heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
Well now, in the streets the children screamed (the children screamed)
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed (the poets dreamed)
But not a word was spoken (not a word was spoken)
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire the most
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
We started singing
Bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this will be the day that I die
This will be the day that I die
Bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this will be the day that I die
This will be the day that I die
We started singing
We started singing
We started singing
We started singing
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew that if I had my chance
I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
Did you write the book of love?
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
Now do you believe in rock and roll?
And can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancing in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes (both kicked off your shoes)
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues
I was a lonely teenage bronkin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pick-up truck
But I knew that I was out of luck
The day the music died
I started singing
Bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
Well, I went down to the sacred store
Where I heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
Well now, in the streets the children screamed (the children screamed)
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed (the poets dreamed)
But not a word was spoken (not a word was spoken)
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire the most
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
We started singing
Bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this will be the day that I die
This will be the day that I die
Bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this will be the day that I die
This will be the day that I die
We started singing
We started singing
We started singing
We started singing
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as this song is a very hard one to cover, madonna did a great job. since don mclean was such a legend, it is always tough for young artists to make their version better, but madonna, i think did well. its a fun summery song that is nice to roll down your windows to when you drive.