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'm fifteen for a moment
Caught in between ten and twenty
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I'm twenty-two for a moment
And she feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
I'm thirty-three for a moment
I'm still the man, but you see I'm of age
A kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind
I'm forty-five for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm headin' into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
Fifteen, I'm alright with you
Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you're wise
Another blink of an eye
Sixty-seven is gone
The sun is gettin' high
We're movin' on
I'm ninety-nine for a moment
And dyin' for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Twenty-two, I feel her too
Thirty-three, you're on your way
Every day's a new day
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
Caught in between ten and twenty
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I'm twenty-two for a moment
And she feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
I'm thirty-three for a moment
I'm still the man, but you see I'm of age
A kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind
I'm forty-five for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm headin' into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
Fifteen, I'm alright with you
Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you're wise
Another blink of an eye
Sixty-seven is gone
The sun is gettin' high
We're movin' on
I'm ninety-nine for a moment
And dyin' for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Twenty-two, I feel her too
Thirty-three, you're on your way
Every day's a new day
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
Lyrics submitted by breezybay11, edited by Tipxx, Goos0, MargoulisseSun, burkhartrl
100 Years Lyrics as written by John Ondrasik
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Whenever I hear this part, I think of a barely concious old man who is dying in a hospital. He's all alone, with no family or anything near him. I always picture him looking up at the ceiling, "counting the ways to where" the love of his life is. I think he loved her as a young man but didn't do anything about it and then she moved away or married someone else or something--basically just slipped out of his life. He's spent all his idle time trying to figure out a way to get in touch with her again, that's what "counting the ways to where you are" means. Now he's "dying for just another moment" (beautiful phrase, by the way) and he is thinking about her for the first time in awhile, as he lays there all alone in the hospital, only one minute left in his life, he just dreams his last breath away for the one he loved a long time ago. Just my silly interpretation, and I haven't even begun to convey the images this song brings up. I think it's one of the most beautifully written songs I've heard.
I agree, it's a beautiful song! And I like the thought and feeling in your interpretation, and I agree with most of it. However, I think you have a line incorrect -- I don't think it's "Dying for just another moment. I think it's "Time for just another moment." I checked several online lyric sources & unfortunately they're NO help; some say "Dying for" and some say "Time for". :( So much for consistency on the internet! heh. I don't mean to diss or criticize your interpretation because I think it's excellent. I'm just saying that the line you think mentions dying might not actually be mentioning dying. :) Peace.<br />