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.
Something on the windowsill
Caught her eye and held her still
The cars pass by outside
Nowhere left to hide
Picture this now crystal clear
Nothing left to hold her here
And creeping up meanwhile
Traces of a smile
Something on the windowsill
Caught her eye and held her still
The cars pass by outside
Here I go flying
Open wide to see if I could fly
Something on the windowsill
Something on the windowsill
Caught her eye and held her still
The cars pass by outside
Nowhere left to hide
Picture this now crystal clear
Nothing left to hold her here
And creeping up meanwhile
Traces of a smile
Something on the windowsill
Caught her eye and held her still
The cars pass by outside
Here I go flying
Open wide to see if I could fly
Something on the windowsill
Something on the windowsill
Lyrics submitted by The Marine
Picture This Lyrics as written by Michael Louis Diamond Brooke H.b. Williams
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Wow. I'm not sure why I've never looked this up before, but I have learned something. I didn't even know who Brooke Williams is. I guess I always assumed it was one of the members of Luscious Jackson. I've always loved Picture This. It's definitely different, even for the Beasties. But I've never thought of it as anything less than one of the many great songs that they have recorded. If it were skipped while someone was listening to Hello Nasty, I'd probably say, "What are you doing, dumb ass? Go Back! I was listening to that!"