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.
Can't for the life of me think of what to do or say. Can't for the life of me think of what to do. From time to time I think I might be Jesse James. Laws aren't made for me and you. And if you peel back my skin you'll probably see a whole gang in there of people, mainly thieves and freaks, a liar, a scary man, who easily disembark whenever they please. I think I'll stick to what I know and dig myself into this hole. It's not so bad if you don't mind the heat. Can't for the life of me think of what to do or say. Can't for the life of me think of what to do. From time to time I think I'm the invisible man, without a shadow or cool hairdo. And if you peel back my skin you'll probably see no one's in there that's not been hassled by some fools who fear their numbers though they're few. I think I'll sit and let their notions brew. I think I'll stick to what I know and dig myself into this hole. Even superheroes once were losers. When they leap they run around and subjugate all those who keep them down. They put on funny masks and dance around the dirt and broken glass. They're getting stronger still despite the times that they're kept under heel. They'll never go away.
Lyrics submitted by I Saw Star Wars
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Ave Grave
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Jesse with the long hair....
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
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Gadjits, The
He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
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Doors, The
Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
Fast Car
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Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
This song conveys my 20-something angst, only in a less obnoxious way.
This song might be a little simpler, though. Could be about a man who has multiple personality disorder (dissociative identity disorder). Seems like something they'd write about. Then again, how many multiples think they're Jesse James?