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.
Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live in cars
Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
It keeps me stable for days in cars
Here in my car
Where the image breaks down
Will you visit me please
If I open my door in cars?
Here in my car
I know I've started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right in cars
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live in cars
Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
It keeps me stable for days in cars
Here in my car
Where the image breaks down
Will you visit me please
If I open my door in cars?
Here in my car
I know I've started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right in cars
Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21
Cars Lyrics as written by Gary Anthony James Webb
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Cars didn't ruin his career in America. One thing about Numan is that he was just too strange for most Americans, even though Cars was a hit. It's kind of like DEVO's Whip-It. It was a hit but from what I remember most people thought they were too odd and goofy. The album Telekon itself was even darker and weirder than TPP and there was no catchy single to top the charts (in the US). According to Numan's autobiography, the record company wanted Numan to hold back the new release 'Telekon' because they felt that The Pleasure Principle still had a lot of market value in it. I distinctly remember buying Telekon from Sears in October of 1980. I also remember Cars was still getting a lot of airplay in the fall of 1980. That's also radio's fault. Most stations would only play one hit song off of the album.