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.
Shaky threw a party that lasted all night
Everybody drank a lot of something nice
There was an old fashioned band of married men
Looking up to me for encouragement it was so-so
The ladies looked bad but the music was sad
No one took their eyes off Lorraine
She shimmered and she strolled like a Chicago moll
Her feathers looked better and better it was so-so
Yeah it was time to unfreeze
When the reverend alabaster danced on his knees
Slam so it wasn't a game
Cracking all the mirrors in shame
Watch that man oh honey, watch that man
He talks like a jerk but he could eat you with a fork and spoon
Watch that man oh honey, watch that man
He walks like a jerk
But he's only taking care of the room
Must be in tune
A Benny Goodman fan painted holes in his hands
So shaky hung him up to dry
The pundits were hoking the manholes were smoking
And every bottle battled with the reason why
The girl on the phone wouldn't leave me alone
A throw back from someone's LP
A lemon in a bag played the tiger rag
And the bodies on the screen stopped bleeding
Yeah I was shaking like a leaf
For I couldn't understand the conversation
Yeah I ran to the street, looking for information
Watch that man oh honey, watch that man
He talks like a jerk but he could eat you with a fork and spoon
Watch that man oh honey, watch that man
He walks like a jerk
But he's only taking care of the room
Must be in tune
Watch that man
Watch that man
Watch that man, oh, oh, oh, oh
Watch that man
Watch that man
(Watch that man)
Watch that man
Watch that man
Watch that man
(Watch that man)
(Watch that man)
(Watch that man)
(Watch that man)
Everybody drank a lot of something nice
There was an old fashioned band of married men
Looking up to me for encouragement it was so-so
The ladies looked bad but the music was sad
No one took their eyes off Lorraine
She shimmered and she strolled like a Chicago moll
Her feathers looked better and better it was so-so
Yeah it was time to unfreeze
When the reverend alabaster danced on his knees
Slam so it wasn't a game
Cracking all the mirrors in shame
Watch that man oh honey, watch that man
He talks like a jerk but he could eat you with a fork and spoon
Watch that man oh honey, watch that man
He walks like a jerk
But he's only taking care of the room
Must be in tune
A Benny Goodman fan painted holes in his hands
So shaky hung him up to dry
The pundits were hoking the manholes were smoking
And every bottle battled with the reason why
The girl on the phone wouldn't leave me alone
A throw back from someone's LP
A lemon in a bag played the tiger rag
And the bodies on the screen stopped bleeding
Yeah I was shaking like a leaf
For I couldn't understand the conversation
Yeah I ran to the street, looking for information
Watch that man oh honey, watch that man
He talks like a jerk but he could eat you with a fork and spoon
Watch that man oh honey, watch that man
He walks like a jerk
But he's only taking care of the room
Must be in tune
Watch that man
Watch that man
Watch that man, oh, oh, oh, oh
Watch that man
Watch that man
(Watch that man)
Watch that man
Watch that man
Watch that man
(Watch that man)
(Watch that man)
(Watch that man)
(Watch that man)
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!
Another classic Bowie track with - disgracefully - no comments. I would like to hear about this song from people more familiar with the Alladin Sane/Thin White Duke era of Bowie...
Great guitar track, anyway, like an updated version of the guitars on Ziggy Stardust.
Ahhh...great song...and the sax on the live versions is remarkable.