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.
They made a statue of us
And then put it on a mountain top
Now tourists come and stare at us
Blow bubbles with their gum
Take photographs of fun, have fun
They'll name a city after us
And later say it's all our fault
Then they'll give us a talking to
Then they'll give us a talking to
'Cause they've got years of experience
We're living in a den of thieves
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We're living in a den of thieves
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
We wear our scarves just like a noose
But not 'cause we want eternal sleep
And though our parts are slightly used
New ones are slave labor you can keep
We're living in a den of thieves
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We're living in a den of thieves
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
They made a statue of us
They made a statue of us
The tourists come and stare at us
The sculptor's mama sends regards
They made a statue of us
They made a statue of us
Our noses have begun to rust
We're living in a den of thieves
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We're living in a den of thieves
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And then put it on a mountain top
Now tourists come and stare at us
Blow bubbles with their gum
Take photographs of fun, have fun
They'll name a city after us
And later say it's all our fault
Then they'll give us a talking to
Then they'll give us a talking to
'Cause they've got years of experience
We're living in a den of thieves
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We're living in a den of thieves
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
We wear our scarves just like a noose
But not 'cause we want eternal sleep
And though our parts are slightly used
New ones are slave labor you can keep
We're living in a den of thieves
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We're living in a den of thieves
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
They made a statue of us
They made a statue of us
The tourists come and stare at us
The sculptor's mama sends regards
They made a statue of us
They made a statue of us
Our noses have begun to rust
We're living in a den of thieves
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We're living in a den of thieves
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
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I agree with the ideas that this is about Soviet Russia. I think people who are unsupportive of the ideas of Lenin and Trotsky are deliberately misinterpreting Regina's lyrics though. People blame Lenin for the problems in Russia, when he and the Bolsheviks brought great improvement to the people and it was Stalin's counter revolution and the installation of capitalism that has crushed Russia. The capitalists don't want to come to a solution for current problems outside of the constraints of capitalism (den of thieves rummaging for answers in the pages). The legalised theft of the wealth created by the working class is a contagious idea that the current capitalist systems rely on (though our parts are slightly used, new ones are slave labour you can keep).
The capitalists are happy for the statues to stay as mere cash cows of tourism, so long as the wrong people are always blamed for their failings. (now tourists come and stare at us, blow bubbles with their gum etc).
Yada Yada Yada. OH MY LORD...what a stretch. Yeah Yeah Yeah capitalism is bad. Apparently, you haven't checked to see how socialism has fared around the world. Give it a rest, please. And the song could simply be about two people and their problems. Dang....
A "stretch," Jeffrey? Really? <br /> <br /> Regina Spector is a Russian-American and the title of the Album that "Us" is from is "Soviet Kitsch" a phrase taken from the book "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," which is set during the communist period of the Soviet Union. This is a perfectly legitimate interpretation. There are plenty of artifacts of art and literature that criticize capitalism (along with communism, monarchy, religion, democracy, war, peace, you see where I'm going...), so why not this song too?<br /> <br /> Personally I think you could interpret this about being many things (lovers being probably the least likely). That's the beauty of real art - and why the work of artists like Drake and Nikki Minaj are going to be forgotten in 10 years.<br /> <br /> If you don't care to analyze a song that's fine, but it's kind of ridiculous that you would take the time to criticize someone for having the audacity to actually think critically about art.
I think the music video puts to bed the idea that this is about anything other than Russia. The rise and fall of the soviets and then the "den of thieves" taking over in the capitalist era. The video is full of old russian pictures and at the "den of thieves" line it shows people in suits desperately climbing a huge dollar sign.