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.
O-ooh, yea-ah, Wo-yoy! Wo-yoy! Wo-yoy! Wo-yoy-yoy-yoy!
Feel it in the one drop
And we'll still find time to rap
We're makin' the one stop,
The generation gap
Now feel this drumbeat
As it beats within,
Playin' a riddim,
Resisting against the system, ooh-wee!
I know Jah's never let us down
Pull your rights from wrong
(I know Jah would never let us down)
Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!
They made their world so hard (so hard)
Every day we got to keep on fighting (fighting)
They made their world so hard (so hard)
Every day the people are dyin' (dying), yeah!
(Dread, dread) For hunger (dread, dread) and starvation (dread, dread)
Lamentation (dread dread)
But read it in Revelation (dread, dread, dread, dread)
You'll find your redemption
And then you give us the teachings of his majesty
For we no want no devil philosophy
A you forgive us the teachings of his majesty
A we no want no devil philosophy
Feel it in the one drop
And we still find time to rap
We're making the one stop
And we filling the gap
So feel this drumbeat
As it beats within
Playing a riddim, uh!
Fighting against ism and skism
Singing! I know Jah's never let us down
Pull your rights from wrong
I know Jah's never let us down
Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!
They made their world so hard
Every day (we got to keep on fighting), every day
They made their world so hard
Every day (the people are dying), eh!
(Dread, dread, it dread, dread) Oh, whoa! Make dem a-go on so
(It dread on dread) Ah, whoa!
(Dread, dread) I'll walk (it dread, dread)
Ah, whoa! Frighten dem! Ah, whoa! Frighten dem, eh!
Give us the teachings of his majesty with a stick-up!
We no want no devil philosophy, can you hear?
Give us the teachings of his majesty
For we no want no devil philosophy
We feel it in the one drop you're lucky!
For we still got time to rap,
And we're making the one stop
Let me tell ya this generation gap
So feel this drumbeat
I tell you what it's beating within
Feel you heart playing a rythmn
Feel it in the one drop
And we'll still find time to rap
We're makin' the one stop,
The generation gap
Now feel this drumbeat
As it beats within,
Playin' a riddim,
Resisting against the system, ooh-wee!
I know Jah's never let us down
Pull your rights from wrong
(I know Jah would never let us down)
Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!
They made their world so hard (so hard)
Every day we got to keep on fighting (fighting)
They made their world so hard (so hard)
Every day the people are dyin' (dying), yeah!
(Dread, dread) For hunger (dread, dread) and starvation (dread, dread)
Lamentation (dread dread)
But read it in Revelation (dread, dread, dread, dread)
You'll find your redemption
And then you give us the teachings of his majesty
For we no want no devil philosophy
A you forgive us the teachings of his majesty
A we no want no devil philosophy
Feel it in the one drop
And we still find time to rap
We're making the one stop
And we filling the gap
So feel this drumbeat
As it beats within
Playing a riddim, uh!
Fighting against ism and skism
Singing! I know Jah's never let us down
Pull your rights from wrong
I know Jah's never let us down
Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!
They made their world so hard
Every day (we got to keep on fighting), every day
They made their world so hard
Every day (the people are dying), eh!
(Dread, dread, it dread, dread) Oh, whoa! Make dem a-go on so
(It dread on dread) Ah, whoa!
(Dread, dread) I'll walk (it dread, dread)
Ah, whoa! Frighten dem! Ah, whoa! Frighten dem, eh!
Give us the teachings of his majesty with a stick-up!
We no want no devil philosophy, can you hear?
Give us the teachings of his majesty
For we no want no devil philosophy
We feel it in the one drop you're lucky!
For we still got time to rap,
And we're making the one stop
Let me tell ya this generation gap
So feel this drumbeat
I tell you what it's beating within
Feel you heart playing a rythmn
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
"So feel this drum beat" and the drum comes in with a rhythm. RESPECT to the ELDERS