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.
Tonight I feel so weak
But all in love is fair
I turn the other cheek
And I feel the slap and the sting of the foul night air
And I know you're only human
And I haven't got talking room
But tonight while I'm making excuses
Some other woman is making love to you
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see I'm burning alive
Can't you see my baby's got another lover
I don't know how I'm gonna survive
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see it's out of control
Baby's got my heart and my baby's got my mind
But tonight the sweet devil, the sweet devil's got my soul
Will this aching pass
Will this night be through
Wanna hear the breaking glass
I only feel the steel of the red hot truth
And I'd do anything to get it out of my mind
I need some insanity that temporary kind
Tell me how will I ever be the same
When I know that that woman is whispering your name
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see I'm burning alive
Can't you see my baby's got another lover
And I don't know how I'm gonna survive
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see it's out of control
Baby's got my heart and my baby's got my mind
But tonight the the sweet devil, the sweet devil's got my soul
Oh-huh,oh yeah
Got my soul
Uh-huh, ooh yeah
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see I'm burning alive
Can't you see my baby's got another lover
And I don't know how I'm gonna survive
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see it's out of control
Baby's got my heart and my baby's got my mind
But tonight the sweet devil, the sweet devil's got my soul
Oh yeah, oh, oh
Baby's got my heart, my baby's got my mind
Tonight the sweet devil, the sweet devil's got my soul
But all in love is fair
I turn the other cheek
And I feel the slap and the sting of the foul night air
And I know you're only human
And I haven't got talking room
But tonight while I'm making excuses
Some other woman is making love to you
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see I'm burning alive
Can't you see my baby's got another lover
I don't know how I'm gonna survive
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see it's out of control
Baby's got my heart and my baby's got my mind
But tonight the sweet devil, the sweet devil's got my soul
Will this aching pass
Will this night be through
Wanna hear the breaking glass
I only feel the steel of the red hot truth
And I'd do anything to get it out of my mind
I need some insanity that temporary kind
Tell me how will I ever be the same
When I know that that woman is whispering your name
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see I'm burning alive
Can't you see my baby's got another lover
And I don't know how I'm gonna survive
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see it's out of control
Baby's got my heart and my baby's got my mind
But tonight the the sweet devil, the sweet devil's got my soul
Oh-huh,oh yeah
Got my soul
Uh-huh, ooh yeah
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see I'm burning alive
Can't you see my baby's got another lover
And I don't know how I'm gonna survive
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see it's out of control
Baby's got my heart and my baby's got my mind
But tonight the sweet devil, the sweet devil's got my soul
Oh yeah, oh, oh
Baby's got my heart, my baby's got my mind
Tonight the sweet devil, the sweet devil's got my soul
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This one popped into my head the closer the date nears when my best friend is going to be seeing his booty-call while travelling for a show. For complicated circumstances, we've never had the opportunity to get together. I figured my way of A) dealing with it, and B) letting him know how thrilled I am that he's going to be seeing her again would be by covering it on my favourite karaoke site.
Oh, music. How you are much-needed therapy.
Fantastic song. Hella difficult to sing, actually. Etheridge has got some choice vocals there - and a surprising amount of lung power.