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.
Ooo I can see that you've got fire in your eyes
And pain inside your heart
So many things have come
And torn your world apart
Oh baby, baby, baby
Don't give up
Don't give up
Don't give up
If you want love
If you want love
You've got to give a little
If you want love
If you want faith
You just believe a little
If you want love
If you want peace
Turn your cheek a little
Oh you've got to give
You've got to give
You've got to give to live
An empty hand reaching out for someone
An empty heart takes so little to fill
It's so much easier to push instead of pull
Oh baby, baby, baby
Don't give up
Don't give up
Don't give up
If you want love
If you want love
You've got to give a little
If you want love
If you want faith
You just believe a little
If you want love
If you want peace
Turn your cheek a little
Oh you've got to give
You've got to give
You've got to give to live
Each man's a country in his own right
Oh everybody needs a friend
One friend one God one country
No man can defend
Yeah
I believe in faith and destination
But so much of that ties in our own hands
But if you know what you want
Just go on out and get it
Oh baby, baby just don't give up no, no
Ah don't give up, yeah, yeah
[Chorus]
And pain inside your heart
So many things have come
And torn your world apart
Oh baby, baby, baby
Don't give up
Don't give up
Don't give up
If you want love
If you want love
You've got to give a little
If you want love
If you want faith
You just believe a little
If you want love
If you want peace
Turn your cheek a little
Oh you've got to give
You've got to give
You've got to give to live
An empty hand reaching out for someone
An empty heart takes so little to fill
It's so much easier to push instead of pull
Oh baby, baby, baby
Don't give up
Don't give up
Don't give up
If you want love
If you want love
You've got to give a little
If you want love
If you want faith
You just believe a little
If you want love
If you want peace
Turn your cheek a little
Oh you've got to give
You've got to give
You've got to give to live
Each man's a country in his own right
Oh everybody needs a friend
One friend one God one country
No man can defend
Yeah
I believe in faith and destination
But so much of that ties in our own hands
But if you know what you want
Just go on out and get it
Oh baby, baby just don't give up no, no
Ah don't give up, yeah, yeah
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by Waco Kid 007
Give to Live Lyrics as written by Sammy Hagar
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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