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.
Guinnevere had green eyes
Like yours, mi'lady, like yours
When she'd walk down through the garden
In the morning after it rained
Peacocks wandered aimlessly
Underneath an orange tree
Why can't she see me?
Guinnevere drew pentagrams
Like yours, mi'lady, like yours
Late at night when she thought
That no one was watching at all
On the wall
She shall be free
As she turns her gaze
Down the slope to the harbor where I lay
Anchored for a day
Guinnevere had golden hair
Like yours, mi'lady, like yours
Streaming out when we'd ride
Through the warm wind down by the bay
Yesterday
Seagulls circle endlessly
I sing in silent harmony
We shall be free
Like yours, mi'lady, like yours
When she'd walk down through the garden
In the morning after it rained
Peacocks wandered aimlessly
Underneath an orange tree
Why can't she see me?
Guinnevere drew pentagrams
Like yours, mi'lady, like yours
Late at night when she thought
That no one was watching at all
On the wall
She shall be free
As she turns her gaze
Down the slope to the harbor where I lay
Anchored for a day
Guinnevere had golden hair
Like yours, mi'lady, like yours
Streaming out when we'd ride
Through the warm wind down by the bay
Yesterday
Seagulls circle endlessly
I sing in silent harmony
We shall be free
Lyrics submitted by kevin
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
Actually, I am Guinnevere, in the 60s, I used to hang with the group often, and I was especially close to David. The song actually is about three special women in David's life--me, christine (his girlfriend that was tragically killed in a car accident) and joni. 'Guinnevere' is the most beautifully haunting song I've ever heard, it's a song close to my heart, and its my favourite that David has written.
@Laety very nice :)
Much has happened since you wrote this. Now, we're on the verge of the 1 year anniversary of David's passing. His songs, his harmonies, are so often haunting and mystical; this one easily comes to mind, as does Dolphin's Smile by the Byrds on an album he wasn't even mentioned on the cover of, let alone being absent in the photo. If you are the mystery woman #3 Laety, listeners owe you thanks for being one of the trio of women who served as the muse for this piece. I don't doubt you are who you say, as David mentioned matter of factly that the song was written for Joni, Christine Hinton, his girlfriend who passed in an car crash, and one other woman. We know who had the golden hair. Do yu have green eyes, or draw pentagrams late at night?