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.
No blind spots in the leopard's eyes
Can only help to jeopardize
The lives of lambs, the shepherd cries
An outdoor life for a silverfish
Eternal dust less ticklish
Than the clean room, a houseguest's wish
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
Face worker, a serpentine miner
A roof falls, an under-liner
Of leaf structure, the egg timer
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth (is he trying to hide?)
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth (is he trying to hide?)
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth (is he trying to hide?)
Can only help to jeopardize
The lives of lambs, the shepherd cries
An outdoor life for a silverfish
Eternal dust less ticklish
Than the clean room, a houseguest's wish
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
Face worker, a serpentine miner
A roof falls, an under-liner
Of leaf structure, the egg timer
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth (is he trying to hide?)
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth (is he trying to hide?)
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth (is he trying to hide?)
Lyrics submitted by Dressed2Depress
Outdoor Miner Lyrics as written by Graham Lewis Colin John Newman
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's an abstract interpretation of the experiences of a kind of inchworm known as the serpentine miner, which eats the chlorophyll in holly leaves. Graham Lewis wrote the words while watching a BBC nature documentary; he was flummoxed when Colin Newman decided to, rather perversely, put them to the Byrdsy little tune which became this song, but ultimately approved.
That said, this song is godly. Ranks with "Map Ref." as one of Wire's best pop songs of their first incarnation ("Madman's Honey", "Ahead" and "Kidney Bingos" probably being the best of their second).