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.
I've got a smile on my face, and I've got four walls around me
I've got the sun in the sky, all the water surround me
Oh you know, ya I've been down and sometimes I'll lose
I've been battered, but I'll never bruise... it's not so bad
And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
And it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
You've just got to say... it's all right.
Gina sings on the corner, what keeps her from dying
Let them say what they want, but she won't stop trying..Oh you know,
She might stumble, they push her 'round
She might fall, but she'll never lie down...it's not so bad
And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
And it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
You've just got to say... it's all right.
It's alright, it's alright...it's ALRIGHT.
'Cause in this beautiful life there's always some sorrow
And It's a double-edged knife, but there's always tomorrow..Oh you know,
It's up to you now if you sink or swim,
Just keep the faith and you're ship will come in?.it's not so bad
And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
And it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
You've just got to say...
I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
And it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
You've just got to say... it's all right, it's all right
I've got a smile on my face, and I've got four walls around me
I've got the sun in the sky, all the water surround me
Oh you know, ya I've been down and sometimes I'll lose
I've been battered, but I'll never bruise... it's not so bad
And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
And it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
You've just got to say... it's all right.
Gina sings on the corner, what keeps her from dying
Let them say what they want, but she won't stop trying..Oh you know,
She might stumble, they push her 'round
She might fall, but she'll never lie down...it's not so bad
And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
And it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
You've just got to say... it's all right.
It's alright, it's alright...it's ALRIGHT.
'Cause in this beautiful life there's always some sorrow
And It's a double-edged knife, but there's always tomorrow..Oh you know,
It's up to you now if you sink or swim,
Just keep the faith and you're ship will come in?.it's not so bad
And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
And it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
You've just got to say...
I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
And it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
You've just got to say... it's all right, it's all right
I've got a smile on my face, and I've got four walls around me
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I agree. I love it because it's so rare nowadays that we hear songs about having a positive attitude and keeping things in scope (though I'm sorry about that murder). We all get sooo worked up every day over so much stuff that's really just pointless in the big scheme of things. We should realize that it's just an ordinary day.