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.
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if I won't have to work no more
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if I won't have to cry no more
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if I won't have to walk no more
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if I won't have to talk
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night
Moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if I won't have to work no more
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if I won't have to cry no more
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if I won't have to walk no more
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if I won't have to talk
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night
Moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
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An amazingly spiritual, stoic, philosophical, dauntless song for a 22 year old to write. To call it a pop song would be to totally underestimate its depth and not to fully understand its purport and wisdom. Here Cat Stevens is taking a hard, fearless look at the misfortunes that can befall us, that life can bring and does bring, perhaps in the form of illnesses, impairments, disabilities etc and he is saying: "so what, I know we are mortal, somehow I will still try and enjoy life and live the moment to the full with whatever I have." He does it in such a poetic way that we hardly realise what he is in fact saying. However, when the message finally fully hits you, it is so powerful that the song should make anyone human choke up and break down in tears!
He fell ill with tuberculosis at the age of 21, one year before writing this song and this could well explain the inspiration for the words. The text is one of the strangest mixtures of downbeat and upbeat I have ever come across. But the positive power of a brave spirit comes across strongest.
@Ser Took the words out of my mouth!