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.
Ring the alarm
I been through this too long
But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm
Don't you ring the alarm
I been through this too long
But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm
She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go, no)
Get in the house off the coast (if I let you go, no)
She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
She gon' rock them VVS stones (if I let you go, no)
Couped in the 'Bach or the Rolls (if I let you go, no)
She gon' profit everything I taught (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
Tell me how should I feel, when I know what I know
And my female intuition, telling me you a dog?
People told me 'bout the flames, I couldn't see through the smoke
When I need answers, accusations, what you mean you gon' choke? (Oh)
You can't stay, you gotta go (oh)
Ain't no other chick spendin' yo' dough
This is taking a toll, the way the story unfolds
Not the picture-perfect movie everyone would have saw
She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go, no)
Get in the house off the coast (if I let you go, no)
She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
She gon' rock them VVS stones (if I let you go, no)
Couped in the 'Bach or the Rolls (if I let you go, no)
She gon' profit everything I taught (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
Ring the alarm
I been through this too long
But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm
Don't you ring the alarm
I been through this too long
But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm
Tell me how should I feel
When you made me belong
And the thought of you just touching her is what I hate most
I don't want you but I want it and I can't let it go
To know you give it to her like you gave it to me, come on (oh)
He's so arrogant and bold (oh)
But she gone love that shit, I know
I done put in a call, time to ring the alarm
'Cause you ain't never seen a fire like the one I'ma cause
She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go, no)
Get in the house off the coast (if I let you go, no)
She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
She gon' rock them VVS stones (if I let you go, no)
Couped in the 'Bach or the Rolls (if I let you go, no)
She gon' profit everything I taught (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no, ooh)
How can you look at me
And not see all the things that I kept only just for you? (Ooh)
Why would you risk it baby is that the price I that pay? (Ooh)
But this is my show and I won't let you go
All has been paid for, and it's mine
How could you look at me
And not see all the things?
(See all the things, see all the things)
She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go, no)
Get in the house off the coast (if I let you go, no)
She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
She gon' rock them VVS stones (if I let you go, no)
Couped in the 'Bach or the Rolls (if I let you go, no)
She gon' profit everything I taught (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
I been through this too long
But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm
Don't you ring the alarm
I been through this too long
But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm
She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go, no)
Get in the house off the coast (if I let you go, no)
She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
She gon' rock them VVS stones (if I let you go, no)
Couped in the 'Bach or the Rolls (if I let you go, no)
She gon' profit everything I taught (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
Tell me how should I feel, when I know what I know
And my female intuition, telling me you a dog?
People told me 'bout the flames, I couldn't see through the smoke
When I need answers, accusations, what you mean you gon' choke? (Oh)
You can't stay, you gotta go (oh)
Ain't no other chick spendin' yo' dough
This is taking a toll, the way the story unfolds
Not the picture-perfect movie everyone would have saw
She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go, no)
Get in the house off the coast (if I let you go, no)
She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
She gon' rock them VVS stones (if I let you go, no)
Couped in the 'Bach or the Rolls (if I let you go, no)
She gon' profit everything I taught (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
Ring the alarm
I been through this too long
But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm
Don't you ring the alarm
I been through this too long
But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm
Tell me how should I feel
When you made me belong
And the thought of you just touching her is what I hate most
I don't want you but I want it and I can't let it go
To know you give it to her like you gave it to me, come on (oh)
He's so arrogant and bold (oh)
But she gone love that shit, I know
I done put in a call, time to ring the alarm
'Cause you ain't never seen a fire like the one I'ma cause
She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go, no)
Get in the house off the coast (if I let you go, no)
She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
She gon' rock them VVS stones (if I let you go, no)
Couped in the 'Bach or the Rolls (if I let you go, no)
She gon' profit everything I taught (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no, ooh)
How can you look at me
And not see all the things that I kept only just for you? (Ooh)
Why would you risk it baby is that the price I that pay? (Ooh)
But this is my show and I won't let you go
All has been paid for, and it's mine
How could you look at me
And not see all the things?
(See all the things, see all the things)
She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go, no)
Get in the house off the coast (if I let you go, no)
She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
She gon' rock them VVS stones (if I let you go, no)
Couped in the 'Bach or the Rolls (if I let you go, no)
She gon' profit everything I taught (if I let you go, no)
I can't let you go (oh), damned if I let you go (no)
Lyrics submitted by radio_cure
Ring the Alarm [Radio Edit] Lyrics as written by Sean Garrett Kasseem Daoud Dean
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I may be reading into this too much, but I think this is from the point of view of a married woman whos husband is cheating on her. Furious, and not loving him anymore, she wants to divorce him, but they have a prenuptial agreement, so instead, she decides to kill him, daring him to "ring the alarm" in that mocking way that black women have sometimes (believe me, I know). The bridge is her moment of plea, before she remembers what she was going to do.
Angry black woman meets Fatal Attraction. Excellent, in my opinion.