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.
Something about me stinks
Something about me smells
I don't want that to be, how you remember me
Something about me stinks
If I was not so strange
If I could only change
I wouldn't be so far, from standing where you are
If I was not so strange
Everywhere I look is south
And everywhere I look is south
If I could clear my vision now, I could hear you nice and loud
Everywhere I look is south
Something about me's weak
If I could only tweak
Myself from the inside out, I could turn my life around
If I was not so weak
It doesn't have to be the only way to common ground
The absence was an option only waiting to be found
But the further that I float along, the sooner I could sink
And in the end it only matters
If you feel that you could think of me the same
Everywhere I look is south
Everywhere I look is south
If I could clear my vision now, I could hear you nice and loud
Everywhere I look is south
Something about me stinks
Something about me smells
I don't want that to be, how you remember me
Something about me stinks
Something about me smells
I don't want that to be, how you remember me
Something about me stinks
If I was not so strange
If I could only change
I wouldn't be so far, from standing where you are
If I was not so strange
Everywhere I look is south
And everywhere I look is south
If I could clear my vision now, I could hear you nice and loud
Everywhere I look is south
Something about me's weak
If I could only tweak
Myself from the inside out, I could turn my life around
If I was not so weak
It doesn't have to be the only way to common ground
The absence was an option only waiting to be found
But the further that I float along, the sooner I could sink
And in the end it only matters
If you feel that you could think of me the same
Everywhere I look is south
Everywhere I look is south
If I could clear my vision now, I could hear you nice and loud
Everywhere I look is south
Something about me stinks
Something about me smells
I don't want that to be, how you remember me
Something about me stinks
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!
They probably wrote all verses at one time down on themselves.
The chorus was written later after heady enlightenment. Cool tune.