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 don't read the paper, I don't watch the news
Life's good in this small town, population 62
Our bank ain't been held-up since 1932
Our doors are always unlocked
But not for long I'm tellin' you
[Chorus]
'cause I know time's are gonna change
I know life will never be the same
I see please tell me it ain't so
They're all movin' in surroundin' me
No place left to go
My oh my you can kiss your freedom goodbye
Used to have a small town drugstore
Where old men liked to meet
That store's gone out of business
They're sellin' drugs out in the streets
The new kids like to spray paint
They've got a lot to say
Sure do have a way with words
Taught me a few today
[Chorus 2]
'cause I know time's are gonna change
I know life will never be the same
I see small town folks like me
Are gonna have to change the way we do things cause eventually
My oh my you can kiss your freedom goodbye
Kiss it goodbye
[Chorus]
[Chorus 2]
Life's good in this small town, population 62
Our bank ain't been held-up since 1932
Our doors are always unlocked
But not for long I'm tellin' you
[Chorus]
'cause I know time's are gonna change
I know life will never be the same
I see please tell me it ain't so
They're all movin' in surroundin' me
No place left to go
My oh my you can kiss your freedom goodbye
Used to have a small town drugstore
Where old men liked to meet
That store's gone out of business
They're sellin' drugs out in the streets
The new kids like to spray paint
They've got a lot to say
Sure do have a way with words
Taught me a few today
[Chorus 2]
'cause I know time's are gonna change
I know life will never be the same
I see small town folks like me
Are gonna have to change the way we do things cause eventually
My oh my you can kiss your freedom goodbye
Kiss it goodbye
[Chorus]
[Chorus 2]
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Kiss Your Freedom Goodbye Lyrics as written by Johnny Van Zant Ed King
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Sounds like the bitching of an old man. "They" seems to sounds suspiciously like a code word for "blacks." Rather ironic that Skynyrd's original incarnation was made up of boys who stayed in trouble, smoked dope, had long hair and hung out with their black friends... in the Sixties South! My how the old are jealous of the young!