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.
i think i finally understand
the way a broken arm can hate the hand
the way a farmer hates his crop
the way a lawyer hates the honest cop
the smell of chamomile
beneath my sickle blade
will not comfort the cancer-stricken
or provide some common shade
i finally woke up at the drop
and told the driver that he had to stop
and then he got down on his knees
you know these actors always die in threes
the sound of dialog
translated by a hack
it gives me chills when she pays the bills and
still has time to surprise attack
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
the look of camouflage
on the ones who beg
the decider says i'm a fighter
but i can't feel my fucking legs
lalalalala
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out.
the way a broken arm can hate the hand
the way a farmer hates his crop
the way a lawyer hates the honest cop
the smell of chamomile
beneath my sickle blade
will not comfort the cancer-stricken
or provide some common shade
i finally woke up at the drop
and told the driver that he had to stop
and then he got down on his knees
you know these actors always die in threes
the sound of dialog
translated by a hack
it gives me chills when she pays the bills and
still has time to surprise attack
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
the look of camouflage
on the ones who beg
the decider says i'm a fighter
but i can't feel my fucking legs
lalalalala
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out and say it
why can't you come out and say it
come out come out come out.
Lyrics submitted by prayingmantis84
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Show Me a Little Shame
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
He certainly did earn that reputation.
Grand Theft Auto
Insane Ian
Insane Ian
The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
Battle Royale
Word Alive, The
Word Alive, The
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.
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
This song = moving philosophical ear candy :)
I don't know who these guys are, but I intend to find out! They have a totally unique sound although I can detect some Elliott Smith/Morrissey/Shins influences in the music. Not only a super catchy melody, but beautiful, thought-provoking lyrics to boot. Especially love the lines "the decider says I'm a fighter, but I can't feel my fucking legs."
As far as the meaning, the whole first stanza seems to me to be expressing feelings of self-loathing, cynicism, futility, and nihilism. The message is very existentialist in my opinion. The idea that a farmer would hate his own livelihood seems bizarre and absurd, but also sadly makes sense in the world we are living in today.
Actually, the whole first stanza reminds me very much of Albert Camus' "The Stranger," just from the degree of apathy that is so evident throughout. Feelings of alienation, isolation, and loneliness are imbued in us by our culture. We are taught to not like ourselves from the media, advertising, religion (Western not Eastern), movies, and everything else that we are bombarded with. It's considered a crime to feel good about yourself, and if you dare to show that you do, be prepared to be torn down by those who are jealous and insecure. Amazing how we can pull our socks up and cope with devastating terrorist attacks, hopeless wars, and environmental disasters, but we can't seem to cope with our own feelings of fear and unworthiness. Isn't there something wrong with that picture?
See my comment below - I think the line about "the decider" is a jab at George W. Bush, who once called himself "the decider".