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.
Don't think sorry's easily said
Don't try turning tables instead
You've taken lots of Chances before
But I'm not gonna give anymore
Don't ask me
That's how it goes
Cause part of me knows what you're thinkin'
Don't say words you're gonna regret
Don't let the fire rush to your head
I've heard the accusation before
And I ain't gonna take any more
Believe me
The sun in your Eyes
Made some of the lies worth believing
I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don't need to see any more
To know that
I can read your mind, I can read your mind
Don't leave false illusions behind
Don't cry cause I ain't changing my mind
So find another fool like before
Cause I ain't gonna live anymore believing
Some of the lies while all of the signs are deceiving
I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don't need to see any more
To know that
I can read your mind, I can read your mind
Don't try turning tables instead
You've taken lots of Chances before
But I'm not gonna give anymore
Don't ask me
That's how it goes
Cause part of me knows what you're thinkin'
Don't say words you're gonna regret
Don't let the fire rush to your head
I've heard the accusation before
And I ain't gonna take any more
Believe me
The sun in your Eyes
Made some of the lies worth believing
I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don't need to see any more
To know that
I can read your mind, I can read your mind
Don't leave false illusions behind
Don't cry cause I ain't changing my mind
So find another fool like before
Cause I ain't gonna live anymore believing
Some of the lies while all of the signs are deceiving
I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don't need to see any more
To know that
I can read your mind, I can read your mind
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Interesting interpretations, although the correct one is the simplest one. The Turn of a Friendly Card (and Eric Woolfson's Gambler) are based on gambling.
After Turn of a Friendly Card, Parsons and Woolfson wrote the Eye in the Sky album. And, what would you know - Eye in the Sky is still a song somewhat based on gambling, and a society where every move is tracked.
Eye in the Sky is about the ceiling surveillance cameras in Las Vegas casinos. As a matter of fact, in "Gambler", Eric Woolfson makes a direct reference to this fact. If you look at the Eye in the Sky booklet, you'll see surveillance cameras in the inner sleeve.
Sure, the song has many different interpretations, but once you know what was the real inspiration behind the song, you can't help but laugh a bit. It's not a love song - quite the contrary. It's about surveillance in Las Vegas casinos.
Read the following lyrics...
"I am the eye in the sky looking at you, I can read your mind I am the maker of rules dealing with fools, I can cheat you blind And I don't need to see anymore to know that I can read your mind, just looking at you"
And think about someone looking at the surveillance cameras and laughing at all the "fools" in the casino floor.
@JamesMarks
Bless your heart, you're the only one who got this right. This IS a song about a relationship: a compulsive gambler's relationship with casinos, to be specific. The author did have a gambling problem and was deeply disillusioned when he eventually learned that the odds were rigged against him. And it works as a song about some kind of more general interpersonal relationship, which makes it especially lovely. Also easy to misunderstand, judging from all the strange comments about God, warped relationships, satellites, and Orwell. It's beautiful, but not exactly mysterious.
@JamesMarks Well the gambling and Las Vegas casinos, ceiling cameras etc. were INSPIRATION undoubtedly. But the OUTCOME itself is much more ambiguous. It's what could say any person who thought they were in a fair game and suddenly they found out they were cheated. A gambler who discovered a secret of gambling house, yes, but also a lover whom their partner cheated on, the voter disappointed by politician, boss deceived by employee or employee deceived by boss etc. Generally the song is abuot disillusion which makes us free ("you're going to find out the truth, and the truth is going to free you", as the Bible says), though it can be painful at the same time. <br /> By the way: if the speaker was God, the addressy had to be someone who just died and now is transferred under the Devil's jurisdiction ("another fool"). Then it could make sense. ;-)