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 wanted love, I needed love
Most of all, most of all
Someone said true love was dead
And I'm bound to fall, bound to fall
For you
Oh, what can I do?
Yeah
Take my badge but my heart remains
Lovin' you, baby child
Tighten up on your reins
You're runnin' wild, runnin' wild
It's true
Sick for days, so many ways
I'm achin' now, I'm achin' now
It's times like these I need relief
Please show me how, oh, show me how
To get right
Yes, out of sight
When I was young and moving fast
Nothin' slowed me down, oh, slowed me down
Now I let the others pass
I've come around, oh, come around
'Cause I've found
Livin' just to keep goin'
Goin' just to be sane
All the while not knowin'
Such a shame
I don't need to get steady
I know just how I feel
Tellin' you to be ready
My dear
Most of all, most of all
Someone said true love was dead
And I'm bound to fall, bound to fall
For you
Oh, what can I do?
Yeah
Take my badge but my heart remains
Lovin' you, baby child
Tighten up on your reins
You're runnin' wild, runnin' wild
It's true
Sick for days, so many ways
I'm achin' now, I'm achin' now
It's times like these I need relief
Please show me how, oh, show me how
To get right
Yes, out of sight
When I was young and moving fast
Nothin' slowed me down, oh, slowed me down
Now I let the others pass
I've come around, oh, come around
'Cause I've found
Livin' just to keep goin'
Goin' just to be sane
All the while not knowin'
Such a shame
I don't need to get steady
I know just how I feel
Tellin' you to be ready
My dear
Lyrics submitted by josephtime, edited by bcm1866, smallwonderrobot
Tighten Up Lyrics as written by Patrick James Carney Daniel Quine Auerbach
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i really like this song! to me its about reminicing on better days, when they were younger, and when they were in love, etc.