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.
Your name is big brother
You say that you're watching me on the tele
Seeing me go nowhere
Your name is big brother
You say that you're tired of me protesting
Children dying everyday
My name is nobody
But I can't wait to see your face inside my door ooh
Your name is big brother
You say that you got me all in your notebook
Writing it down everyday
Your name is I'll see ya
I'll change if you vote me in as a pres
The President of your soul
I live in the ghetto
You just come to visit me 'round election time
Da, da, da, da, da, da,
Da, da, da, da, da, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
I live in the ghetto
Someday, I will move on my feet to the other side
My name is secluded
We live in a house the size of a matchbox
Roaches live with us, wall to wall
You've killed all our leaders
I don't even have to do nothin' to you
You'll cause your own country to fall
You say that you're watching me on the tele
Seeing me go nowhere
Your name is big brother
You say that you're tired of me protesting
Children dying everyday
My name is nobody
But I can't wait to see your face inside my door ooh
Your name is big brother
You say that you got me all in your notebook
Writing it down everyday
Your name is I'll see ya
I'll change if you vote me in as a pres
The President of your soul
I live in the ghetto
You just come to visit me 'round election time
Da, da, da, da, da, da,
Da, da, da, da, da, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
I live in the ghetto
Someday, I will move on my feet to the other side
My name is secluded
We live in a house the size of a matchbox
Roaches live with us, wall to wall
You've killed all our leaders
I don't even have to do nothin' to you
You'll cause your own country to fall
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This very thought provoking song rips me to my very core when Stevie sings, “You've killed all our leaders”. I am still scarred by the deaths of Dr. King, JFK and RFK and this song brutally reminds me that sticking one’s neck out too far can get it chopped off.
As for the rest of the song, Stevie sums up the plight of the forgotten (at least until election time) urban populace with venom and world weary wit. What a great songwriter, sic ‘em Stevie.