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.
I pulled into Nashville, Tennessee,
But you wouldn't even come around to see me
And since you're headin' up to Carolina,
You know I'm gonna be right there behind ya
'Cause I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Now I love to feel that warm southern rain,
Just to hear it fall is the sweetest sounding thing
And to see it fall on your simple country dress
It's like heaven to me I must confess
'Cause I always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Now I've been hangin' 'round you for days,
But when I lean in you just turn your head away
Oh no, you didn't mean that
She said I love the way you think, but I hate the way you act
'Cause I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
But you wouldn't even come around to see me
And since you're headin' up to Carolina,
You know I'm gonna be right there behind ya
'Cause I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Now I love to feel that warm southern rain,
Just to hear it fall is the sweetest sounding thing
And to see it fall on your simple country dress
It's like heaven to me I must confess
'Cause I always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Now I've been hangin' 'round you for days,
But when I lean in you just turn your head away
Oh no, you didn't mean that
She said I love the way you think, but I hate the way you act
'Cause I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
I always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
Always have to steal my kisses from you
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Not to start an argument because i can see where you're coming from about this being about his son. But to quote the song Ohh I know you didn't mean that She said 'I love the way you think but I hate the way you act'
but the rest of it kinda supports the song being about his son, or seperated child, maybe a daughter lost in a divorce that moved to carolina. Anyway i have no idea if Ben Harper even has a daughter so please don't flame on me for this, i'm just goin by what i hear in the song.
*PS this reminds me alot of Aerosmith's Dont want to miss a thing, i think its abut his daughter but ::shrugs::