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.
It might be impractical to seek out a new romance
We won't know the actual if we never take the chance
I'd like to collapse with you and ease you against this song
I think we're compatible, I see that you think I'm wrong, but
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, what choice of words will take me back to you?
Your love makes a fool of you, you can't seem to understand
A heart doesn't play by rules and love has it's own demands
But I'll be there to take care of you if ever you should decide
But you don't want to waste your life in the middle of a lovesick lullaby, but
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, the choicest words will take me back to you
Oh my reddest rose, caldera, set it off
How your fire grows hermosa caldera
Glistening through your fussed blows careen your caldera
Set it off, as your body flows the second hand flashes
Passes over your skin like time
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, my love
Any time will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Any time will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Any time will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Anytime will do, what choice of words will take me back to you?
We won't know the actual if we never take the chance
I'd like to collapse with you and ease you against this song
I think we're compatible, I see that you think I'm wrong, but
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, what choice of words will take me back to you?
Your love makes a fool of you, you can't seem to understand
A heart doesn't play by rules and love has it's own demands
But I'll be there to take care of you if ever you should decide
But you don't want to waste your life in the middle of a lovesick lullaby, but
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, the choicest words will take me back to you
Oh my reddest rose, caldera, set it off
How your fire grows hermosa caldera
Glistening through your fussed blows careen your caldera
Set it off, as your body flows the second hand flashes
Passes over your skin like time
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, my love
Anytime will do, my love
Any time will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Any time will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Any time will do, no choice of words will break me from this rule
Anytime will do, what choice of words will take me back to you?
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What's amazing is the mood it achieves despite its pining lyrics. Without the music to accompany the message, you would think he's letting her walk all over him. "Anytime will do" at face-value sounds like: "I'll wait for you forever, even though you haven't shown the slightest sign of ever wanting to be with me." But then you hear it and think: where does he get the confidence to sing it like that?
It's Westley's "As you wish..." to Buttercup. It's Howard Roark's "Yes, Miss Francon".
When you get to the bridge, there are all these sexy metaphors MattTheMartian has been keen on pointing out. I've got to say, though, to me the "second hand" isn't about his hand, it's about hers. Like that of clock, it starts in the 12 position and makes its way down to the 6; as in, where her hand goes when she's sleeping alone in bed... Look at the first line of that section. He's giving her a command to "set it off".
Where does he get the confidence to sing it like that?
My guess is he knows she can't hold out forever, and will come knocking eventually. This is siege warfare, my friends.