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.
Sleep delays my life (get up, get up)
Where does time go? (get up, get up, get up)
I don't know, oh
Sleep, sleep, sleepy head (get up, get up, get up)
Wake it up, up (get up, get up)
You've got all your life (way up ahead)
(Get up, get up, get up)
Dreams, they complicate my life (dreams, they complement my life)
I've seen you lay and pine (get up, get up)
I've seen you lay and pine (get up, get up)
Life is rough, rough (get up, get up, get up)
I've seen you laying down (get up)
With the loving kind (get up, get up)
I know life is hard, hard (where goes your time?)
Where to turn, where to turn? (get up, get up)
Dreams, they complicate my life (dreams, they complement my life)
D-d-dream time
Dreams, they complicate my life (dreams, they complement my life)
This time, no escape, I wake up (get up, get up)
Get up, get up
Get up
Get up
Get up, get up, get up
Where does time go? (get up, get up, get up)
I don't know, oh
Sleep, sleep, sleepy head (get up, get up, get up)
Wake it up, up (get up, get up)
You've got all your life (way up ahead)
(Get up, get up, get up)
Dreams, they complicate my life (dreams, they complement my life)
I've seen you lay and pine (get up, get up)
I've seen you lay and pine (get up, get up)
Life is rough, rough (get up, get up, get up)
I've seen you laying down (get up)
With the loving kind (get up, get up)
I know life is hard, hard (where goes your time?)
Where to turn, where to turn? (get up, get up)
Dreams, they complicate my life (dreams, they complement my life)
D-d-dream time
Dreams, they complicate my life (dreams, they complement my life)
This time, no escape, I wake up (get up, get up)
Get up, get up
Get up
Get up
Get up, get up, get up
Lyrics submitted by xpankfrisst
Get Up Lyrics as written by Michael E. Mills John Michael Stipe
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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stipe calls this his favorite song on the tourfilm dvd