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.
Goodbye to sleep
I think that staying up is exactly what I need
Well take apart your head
Take apart the counting
And the flock it has bred
Goodbye to love
It's a ride that will push you up
Right against the wall
(Does everybody really need to know everyone?)
Take apart your head
(Do you really think you're really a part of it?)
Right against the wall
(And is your army really one of some thousands?)
Chew it up and swallow it
(And will you declare war on the loony bin?)
You burn bright but you run out
I fell asleep in the incline
I can't shake this little feeling
I'll never get anything right
Goodbye, you liar
Well, you sipped from her cup
But you don't own up to anything
Then you think you will inspire
(When I arrive will God be waiting and pacing around his throne?)
Take apart your head
(Will he feel a little Old Testament?)
I wish I could inspire
(And will he celebrate with fire and brimstone)
Take apart the demon, in the attic, to the left
(Yeah, I admit, I am afraid of the reckoning)
(Goodbye my love)
You burnt bright but you run out
(You wait right here, and they will come and pick you up)
Let's sleep on the incline
(I've been on pause but I'm shaking off the rust)
I can't shake this tiny feeling
(I've lost my charge, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right, right, right (I'm on my own)
Take me, take me, back to your bed
I love you so much that it hurts my head
Say "I don't mind you under my skin,"
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
But when we were made, we were set apart
Life is a test and I get bad marks
Now some Saint got the job
Of writing down my sins
The storm is coming
The storm is coming, yeah
You burnt bright but you run out
I fell asleep in the incline
I can't shake this little feeling
I never did anything right (I'm on my own)
I never did anything right (I'm on my own)
Take me, take me back to your bed
I love you so much, that it hurts my head
I don't mind you under my skin
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
You're my favorite bird, and when you sing
I really do wish that you would wear my ring
No matter what they say, I am still the king
Now, the storm is coming
The storm is coming, yeah
I think that staying up is exactly what I need
Well take apart your head
Take apart the counting
And the flock it has bred
Goodbye to love
It's a ride that will push you up
Right against the wall
(Does everybody really need to know everyone?)
Take apart your head
(Do you really think you're really a part of it?)
Right against the wall
(And is your army really one of some thousands?)
Chew it up and swallow it
(And will you declare war on the loony bin?)
You burn bright but you run out
I fell asleep in the incline
I can't shake this little feeling
I'll never get anything right
Goodbye, you liar
Well, you sipped from her cup
But you don't own up to anything
Then you think you will inspire
(When I arrive will God be waiting and pacing around his throne?)
Take apart your head
(Will he feel a little Old Testament?)
I wish I could inspire
(And will he celebrate with fire and brimstone)
Take apart the demon, in the attic, to the left
(Yeah, I admit, I am afraid of the reckoning)
(Goodbye my love)
You burnt bright but you run out
(You wait right here, and they will come and pick you up)
Let's sleep on the incline
(I've been on pause but I'm shaking off the rust)
I can't shake this tiny feeling
(I've lost my charge, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right, right, right (I'm on my own)
Take me, take me, back to your bed
I love you so much that it hurts my head
Say "I don't mind you under my skin,"
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
But when we were made, we were set apart
Life is a test and I get bad marks
Now some Saint got the job
Of writing down my sins
The storm is coming
The storm is coming, yeah
You burnt bright but you run out
I fell asleep in the incline
I can't shake this little feeling
I never did anything right (I'm on my own)
I never did anything right (I'm on my own)
Take me, take me back to your bed
I love you so much, that it hurts my head
I don't mind you under my skin
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
You're my favorite bird, and when you sing
I really do wish that you would wear my ring
No matter what they say, I am still the king
Now, the storm is coming
The storm is coming, yeah
Lyrics submitted by overoverme, edited by ked0261, SephNite
Degausser Lyrics as written by Garrett Tierney Brian Lane
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I didn't feel like reading through all those pages of meaning. Kind of crazy to see all that being put down about the song, but cool. I've heard Jesse sing both 'alkaline' and 'incline' live. As for the bird part. The line doesn't make sense as "You're my favorite bird, and when you sing" It seems incomplete and doesn't flow into the next line properly. Honestly, after much listening it sounds like "You're my favorite burden, when you sing". It would make sense if this song was about his relationship with the chick from Eisley. Let's be real, most of this album is about that and death. He was so down and out about the whole thing it would make sense.