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.
If there is something that I might find
Look around corners
Try to find peace of mind I say
Where would you go if you were me
Try to keep a straight course not easy
Somebody special looking at me
A certain reaction we find
What should it try to be I mean
If there are many
Meaning the same
Be specific just a game
I would do anything for you
I would climb mountains
I would swim all the oceans blue
I would walk a thousand miles
Reveal my secrets
More than enough for me to share
I would put roses round our door
Sit in the garden
Growing potatoes by the score
Shake your hair girl with your ponytail
Takes me right back (when you were young)
Throw your precious gifts into the air
Watch them fall down (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
You used to walk upon (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
The hills were higher (when we were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
The trees were taller (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
The grass was greener (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
You used to walk upon (when you were young)
Look around corners
Try to find peace of mind I say
Where would you go if you were me
Try to keep a straight course not easy
Somebody special looking at me
A certain reaction we find
What should it try to be I mean
If there are many
Meaning the same
Be specific just a game
I would do anything for you
I would climb mountains
I would swim all the oceans blue
I would walk a thousand miles
Reveal my secrets
More than enough for me to share
I would put roses round our door
Sit in the garden
Growing potatoes by the score
Shake your hair girl with your ponytail
Takes me right back (when you were young)
Throw your precious gifts into the air
Watch them fall down (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
You used to walk upon (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
The hills were higher (when we were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
The trees were taller (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
The grass was greener (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
You used to walk upon (when you were young)
Lyrics submitted by endofthelinejoel
If There Is Something Lyrics as written by Bryan Ferry
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I first heard this song when I was about 12 years old, which I feel was the perfect age to hear it for the first time. Just like the song which begins with an up beat (young, youthful, fast), it turns into something deeper (transitioning from a child to an adult), such as falling in love, then it turns again becoming even deeper, for the last time (old age) reminiscing about youth and how when you were a child things were fresh, and colorful and big (being a child you are small and everything is taller and larger and new) and all the things that you appreciate now, you couldn't appreciate then, because you were still a child and didn't understand them, but the lyrics "lift up your feet and put them on the ground, you used to walk upon, when you were young" means that this person is older and frail and can't walk like they could when they were young and youthful. I believe thhe end of the song is the acceptance of death and the reminiscence of the life they lived. I've heard thousands of songs and no song I have ever heard is this deep and powerful. Every human being that has ever lived a full life can relate with each and every single lyric. Amazing.
Your words are worthy of the song itself. <br /> I too have found such things in this profound and haunting song. Your analysis is inspiring. I want to hear the song again now. I love the stripped-down beat and singing only part where Bryan F's voice breaks/shrieks with emotion: "Shake your hair girl with your ponytail..."<br /> <br /> It kinda makes me think of "Remember a Day" by pink Floyd. Lost innocence and wonder of childhood vs. the jaded present and doomed to age.