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.
My neighbour does some funny things
He's got three kids and he's got six drinks to go
Before he sleeps tonight
Singing liberation songs out on the front veranda
My neighbour falls asleep out there
He wakes up the next morning with the sun
And it reminds him that it's time, it's off to work we go
It's always one day starting way behind another
Get it back now, get it back now, get it back now
Dreaming is a casual thing you do if you belief
And just by chance one day the loverly things will come
True
But he's way past thinking that, it's now a day by day
Proposal
He's lost his magic, christ, he'd like to get it back now
Get it back now, get it back now, get it back now
Once upon a time there were so many plans
Holidays and blossoms and some find romance
But it's all behind him now, there's no game plan to be
Followed
He's lost his magic, christ, he'd like to get it back now
Get it back now, get it back now, get it back now
He's got three kids and he's got six drinks to go
Before he sleeps tonight
Singing liberation songs out on the front veranda
My neighbour falls asleep out there
He wakes up the next morning with the sun
And it reminds him that it's time, it's off to work we go
It's always one day starting way behind another
Get it back now, get it back now, get it back now
Dreaming is a casual thing you do if you belief
And just by chance one day the loverly things will come
True
But he's way past thinking that, it's now a day by day
Proposal
He's lost his magic, christ, he'd like to get it back now
Get it back now, get it back now, get it back now
Once upon a time there were so many plans
Holidays and blossoms and some find romance
But it's all behind him now, there's no game plan to be
Followed
He's lost his magic, christ, he'd like to get it back now
Get it back now, get it back now, get it back now
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Agree FreeBeer..... One of my favourite Australian bands, so underrated. This song is simple and harmless, yet so pointedly tugs at the suburban heartstring of Australian life. The message seems so sad, but is it really?