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.
Arnold Layne
Had a strange hobby
Collecting clothes
Moonshine washing line
They suit him fine
On the wall
Hung a tall mirror
Distorted view
See through baby blue
He done it, oh, Arnold Layne
It's not the same,
It takes two to know
Two to know
Two to know
Two to know
Why can't you see?
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne
Now he's caught
A nasty sort of person
They gave him time
Doors bang, chain gang
He hates it
Oh, Arnold Layne
It's not the same
It takes two to know
Two to know
Two to know
Two to know
Why can't you see?
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne, don't do it again
Had a strange hobby
Collecting clothes
Moonshine washing line
They suit him fine
On the wall
Hung a tall mirror
Distorted view
See through baby blue
He done it, oh, Arnold Layne
It's not the same,
It takes two to know
Two to know
Two to know
Two to know
Why can't you see?
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne
Now he's caught
A nasty sort of person
They gave him time
Doors bang, chain gang
He hates it
Oh, Arnold Layne
It's not the same
It takes two to know
Two to know
Two to know
Two to know
Why can't you see?
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne, don't do it again
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Arnold Layne Lyrics as written by Syd Barrett
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Alright, to support the "pervert from their childhood" theory, I tried googling for a respectable source.
This is the most respectable I could find: luckymojo.com/barrett/refs/7410freaking.html
Not only is it by an unknown author, but it also has Syd saying "I thought 'Arnold Layne' was a nice name, and it fitted very well into the music I had already composed" and "I pinched the line about 'moonshine washing line' from Rog, our bass guitarist - because he has an enormous washing line in the back of his house."
This seems to say that the perpetrator was not someone anyone from the band knew, but rather the story is a work of fiction.
Plus, it's from an unknown author. And this was the most authoritative information I could find. If anyone has any sources to support their other theories, by all means share them.