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.
Effie
Madge and Mabel
Biddie, see them on the beach
Or in New
York City, Tina Louise
And there's Hazel and Mavis
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Wanda and Janet
And Ronnie and Reba, oh, oh, oh
These are the girls of the U.S.A.
The principal girls of the U.S.A.
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Oh, oh, oh
Kate
Kate and Cindy
And Crystal and Candy
Mercedes and Joan, Betty and Brenda
Suzie and Anita
And Pheobe and Jack, Jackie-O
These are the girls of the U.S.A.
The principal girls of the U.S.A.
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Can you name, name, name?
Madge and Mabel
Biddie, see them on the beach
Or in New
York City, Tina Louise
And there's Hazel and Mavis
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Wanda and Janet
And Ronnie and Reba, oh, oh, oh
These are the girls of the U.S.A.
The principal girls of the U.S.A.
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Oh, oh, oh
Kate
Kate and Cindy
And Crystal and Candy
Mercedes and Joan, Betty and Brenda
Suzie and Anita
And Pheobe and Jack, Jackie-O
These are the girls of the U.S.A.
The principal girls of the U.S.A.
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Can you name, name, name
Name 'em today?
Can you name, name, name?
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The Offspring did cover for that song, here are lyrics for that cover:
Shelly , Jane, Laura, Stacey See them on the beach Or in New York City Jennifer and Cyndee And Sascha and Marvin
Can you name, name, name, name them today Can you name, name, name, name them today
Chelsea and Gloria and Wendy and Glenda These are the girls of the USA The principal girls of the USA
Can you name, name, name, name them today Can you name, name, name, name them today
Oh Rose, Rose and Denise And Michelle and Randi, Kamala and Roma Cynthia and Lisa, Tammi and Virginia And Stephanie and Jamie-O These are the girls of the USA The principal girls of the USA
Can you name, name, name, name them today Can you name, name, name, name them today