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.
Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many, why? Why so many, why so many, why? Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why?
Manny don't need no comforting
He don't ask of the world to bring him up
Ain't gonna see him waitin' on waitin' on waitin' on the day
Got him a chair in '73
It was his only option
So Manny agreed
Same chair he has today since they threw the cane away
And Manny wasn't doing nothing
He just doing his own thing
You know it getting pretty cold out by the jub jub swing
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
I'm not so weak
Manny gonna go where the rabble go
He gonna roll down the world and he bring me up
Ain't going to see him giving into the others way
Cause they may beat us in search but our fall is unstained
You know he says it wont be long till we are up again
Having another swing
And Manny wasn't doing nothing
He just doing his own thing
Yah know it gettin' pretty cold but he the one who bring
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
No, I'm not so weak
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
I'm not so weak
'Cause the bottles not empty
'Cause your voices are all there
My life will fight in my body for air
'Cause the bottle's not empty
'Cause your voices are all there
My life will fight in my body for air
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
And oh this friend today
Right me up
And oh this friend today
Right me up
I'm not so
And oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
No, I'm not so weak
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
I'm not so weak
Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many why?
Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many why?
Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many why?
Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why?
Manny we gonna get that A.M. dial just right
I'll hold that hanger up as long as the Sox put up a fight
Manny don't need no comforting
He don't ask of the world to bring him up
Ain't gonna see him waitin' on waitin' on waitin' on the day
Got him a chair in '73
It was his only option
So Manny agreed
Same chair he has today since they threw the cane away
And Manny wasn't doing nothing
He just doing his own thing
You know it getting pretty cold out by the jub jub swing
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
I'm not so weak
Manny gonna go where the rabble go
He gonna roll down the world and he bring me up
Ain't going to see him giving into the others way
Cause they may beat us in search but our fall is unstained
You know he says it wont be long till we are up again
Having another swing
And Manny wasn't doing nothing
He just doing his own thing
Yah know it gettin' pretty cold but he the one who bring
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
No, I'm not so weak
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
I'm not so weak
'Cause the bottles not empty
'Cause your voices are all there
My life will fight in my body for air
'Cause the bottle's not empty
'Cause your voices are all there
My life will fight in my body for air
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
And oh this friend today
Right me up
And oh this friend today
Right me up
I'm not so
And oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
No, I'm not so weak
Oh this friend today
Right me up
Oh this friend today
Right me up
I'm not so weak
Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many why?
Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many why?
Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why so many why?
Why so many, why so many why? Why so many, why?
Manny we gonna get that A.M. dial just right
I'll hold that hanger up as long as the Sox put up a fight
Lyrics submitted by shaynew216
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i asked chad what the lyrics are in the intro. he said it's a combo of "why so many" and "wise ol' Manny" just so y'all know