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.
You say you're down on your luck
hey baby, its a long, long way up
hold back now, hold back your fears
you say you're really down and out
and you feel like there's no way out now
let go now let go of your tears some more
How many times have you asked yourself
is this the hand of fate that I've been dealt?
you're so disillusioned this can't be real
and you can't stand now the way you feel
I don't care about what they say
I won't live or die that way
tired of figuring out things on my own
angel's wings won't you carry me home
[Chorus:]
You say you're down on your luck
hey baby, its a long, long way up
hold back now, hold back your fears
and when you're really down and out
and you feel like there's no way out now
let go now let go of your tears some more
[Repeat Chorus]
I triumphed in the face of adversity
and I became the man I never thought I'd be
and now my biggest challenge, a thing called love
I guess I'm not as tough as I thought I was
I don't care about what they say
I'm gonna marry you some day
go ahead and wake up, its a brand new day
Angel's wings gonna carry you away
Angels wings are going to carry me away
angels wings are going to carry us away
hey baby, its a long, long way up
hold back now, hold back your fears
you say you're really down and out
and you feel like there's no way out now
let go now let go of your tears some more
How many times have you asked yourself
is this the hand of fate that I've been dealt?
you're so disillusioned this can't be real
and you can't stand now the way you feel
I don't care about what they say
I won't live or die that way
tired of figuring out things on my own
angel's wings won't you carry me home
[Chorus:]
You say you're down on your luck
hey baby, its a long, long way up
hold back now, hold back your fears
and when you're really down and out
and you feel like there's no way out now
let go now let go of your tears some more
[Repeat Chorus]
I triumphed in the face of adversity
and I became the man I never thought I'd be
and now my biggest challenge, a thing called love
I guess I'm not as tough as I thought I was
I don't care about what they say
I'm gonna marry you some day
go ahead and wake up, its a brand new day
Angel's wings gonna carry you away
Angels wings are going to carry me away
angels wings are going to carry us away
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mike ness is so amazing. and I have the live version, which I kind of like the lyrics of a little bit better. They're kind of incoherable at some parts, but I know the first verse is "Welfare mother, drink yourself to sleep While silently your children weep When you coming home dad? I don't know when The county's gonna take us away again I don't care about what they say I ain't gonna die that way Welfare mother drink yourself to sleep While silently your children weep"
BOTH versions are freakishly excellent =]
Cats in the Cradle tag?