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.
Girl,
You have no faith in medicine
Acetaminophen
You see the medicine
Girl,
You have no faith in medicine
Is there a way to find a cure for this
Implanted in a pill?
Is it just the name upon the bottle
The determines if it will?
Is the problem your allergic
To a well familiar name?
Do you have any problem with this one
If the results are they same?
Acetaminophen
You see the medicine
Girl,
You have no faith in medicine
Well strip the bark right off a tree
And just hand it this way
Don't even need a drink of water
To make the headache go away
Give me a sugar pill
And watch me just rattle
Down the street
Acetaminophen
You see the medicine
Girl,
You have no faith in medicine
You have no faith in medicine
Acetaminophen
You see the medicine
Girl,
You have no faith in medicine
Is there a way to find a cure for this
Implanted in a pill?
Is it just the name upon the bottle
The determines if it will?
Is the problem your allergic
To a well familiar name?
Do you have any problem with this one
If the results are they same?
Acetaminophen
You see the medicine
Girl,
You have no faith in medicine
Well strip the bark right off a tree
And just hand it this way
Don't even need a drink of water
To make the headache go away
Give me a sugar pill
And watch me just rattle
Down the street
Acetaminophen
You see the medicine
Girl,
You have no faith in medicine
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!
This song to me is pretty obviously about the placebo effect. Sometimes the ability to get better, to be well, is in your mind, but you think you need something to help the process. It's all in this girl to be well, and while she's refusing to take her 'medicine' and being miserable, the answer's right there.