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.
Some boys kiss me
Some boys hug me
I think they're ok
If they don't give me proper credit
I just walk away
They can beg and they can plead
But they can't see the light (that's right)
'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash
Is always Mister Right
'Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Some boys romance
Some boys slow dance
That's all right with me
If they can't raise my interest then I
Have to let them be
Some boys try and some boys lie but
I don't let them play (no way)
Only boys that save their pennies
Make my rainy day
'Cause we're living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Ah-ah
Ah-ah
Ah-ah
Ah-oh, ah-oh
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world (ah-ah)
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Boys may come and boys may go
And that's all right, you see
Experience has made me rich
And now they're after me
'Cause everybody's living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl (ah-ah)
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Ah-ah
A material, a material, a material, a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world (ah-ah)
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material
Some boys hug me
I think they're ok
If they don't give me proper credit
I just walk away
They can beg and they can plead
But they can't see the light (that's right)
'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash
Is always Mister Right
'Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Some boys romance
Some boys slow dance
That's all right with me
If they can't raise my interest then I
Have to let them be
Some boys try and some boys lie but
I don't let them play (no way)
Only boys that save their pennies
Make my rainy day
'Cause we're living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Ah-ah
Ah-ah
Ah-ah
Ah-oh, ah-oh
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world (ah-ah)
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Boys may come and boys may go
And that's all right, you see
Experience has made me rich
And now they're after me
'Cause everybody's living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl (ah-ah)
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Ah-ah
A material, a material, a material, a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world (ah-ah)
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material
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For all her diva-ishness, at least she's up front about herself in this slice of autobiography. It's borne out that she is an absolute megalomaniac and money pinching egoist. Anyone her demands new and private toilets wherever she goes has to be medically categorised as something. Some think she's being 'sarcastic' - well, only to her 'fans'. Sillydumbpop by a Popdumbsilly.