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 never hear me talk about one day getting out
Why put a new address on the same old loneliness
Everybody knows where that is
We built that house of his
And when he's not home
Someone else you know always is
If Heaven's really coming back
I hope it has a heart attack
When they see how dangerous it is for guys like that
The night has always known when it's time to get going
When it's really been so long that it starts showing
It's always had that ghost who always almost
Tells me the Secret
How there's really no difference in who he was once
And who he's become
Everything you hated me for
Honey there was so much more
I just didn't get busted.
But I'm not looking for an easy way out
This whole life it's been about
Try and try and try
And try and try and try
To be simple again
Why put a new address on the same old loneliness
Everybody knows where that is
We built that house of his
And when he's not home
Someone else you know always is
If Heaven's really coming back
I hope it has a heart attack
When they see how dangerous it is for guys like that
The night has always known when it's time to get going
When it's really been so long that it starts showing
It's always had that ghost who always almost
Tells me the Secret
How there's really no difference in who he was once
And who he's become
Everything you hated me for
Honey there was so much more
I just didn't get busted.
But I'm not looking for an easy way out
This whole life it's been about
Try and try and try
And try and try and try
To be simple again
Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget, edited by embassyrow, probalo, Dante Sint
Just Be Simple Lyrics as written by Jason Molina
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Why put a new address on the same old loneliness"
I love that line. My mum has moved a few times thinking well it'll be better there, and the grass is always greener and dull as dirt where you stand.