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 ain't puck rock 'til the punk rockers say it's punk rock.
It ain't puck rock 'til the punk rockers say it's punk rock.
Don't waste your time examining the mind of a stripper
You're gonna get gripped in the grip of the gripper.
It ain't puck rock 'til the punk rockers say it's punk
Rock!
Rock!
Rock!
Rock!
Number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight
Number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight
Why are all the white people filled with hate? (filled with hate)
Why do archeologists excavate? (excavate)
Number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight
Number eighty-eight,
Number eighty-eight,
Number eighty-eight
Loads can be made
We should wrap this debate
So decide under the covers where the good times await
Every life needs a fate
Every lad needs a mate
Every seller needs a buyer
Every oven needs a fire
And if you're on fire, you're gonna need some water
And if you're underwater, you're gonna need some air
And if you're in the air, you're gonna need a place to land
And if you're on land, you can come and see my piece of shit band!
It ain't puck rock 'til the punk rockers say it's punk rock.
Number eighty-eight, Number eighty-eight
It ain't puck rock 'til the punk rockers say it's punk rock.
Number eighty-eight, Number eighty-eight
Is this really happening?
Yes it is! (Yes it is!)
Are we always doing this?
Yes it is! (Yes it is!)
I'm gonna be a sweet billionaire, lover.
It ain't puck rock 'til the punk rockers say it's punk rock.
Don't waste your time examining the mind of a stripper
You're gonna get gripped in the grip of the gripper.
It ain't puck rock 'til the punk rockers say it's punk
Rock!
Rock!
Rock!
Rock!
Number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight
Number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight
Why are all the white people filled with hate? (filled with hate)
Why do archeologists excavate? (excavate)
Number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight, number eighty-eight
Number eighty-eight,
Number eighty-eight,
Number eighty-eight
Loads can be made
We should wrap this debate
So decide under the covers where the good times await
Every life needs a fate
Every lad needs a mate
Every seller needs a buyer
Every oven needs a fire
And if you're on fire, you're gonna need some water
And if you're underwater, you're gonna need some air
And if you're in the air, you're gonna need a place to land
And if you're on land, you can come and see my piece of shit band!
It ain't puck rock 'til the punk rockers say it's punk rock.
Number eighty-eight, Number eighty-eight
It ain't puck rock 'til the punk rockers say it's punk rock.
Number eighty-eight, Number eighty-eight
Is this really happening?
Yes it is! (Yes it is!)
Are we always doing this?
Yes it is! (Yes it is!)
I'm gonna be a sweet billionaire, lover.
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I can shed a little light on what the lyrics mean. The number eighty-eight stands for Heil Hitler as the letter 'H' is the eighth letter of the alphabet. This makes the line "Why are all the white people filled with hate?" make a little more sense.
Maybe the song is making fun of white supremacist punk rock bands. I dunno.
Other's have brought up this connection, and Valentine has some what played it off like the reference was unintentional.<br /> <br /> "When I wrote those two songs (Punk Rock, and Countdown?), I was walking from one neighborhood in Brooklyn to another to go meet my buddy for some beers. His address was 88 Carroll Street. When I was struggling to come up with a lyric, I had a piece of paper with his address on it and I just used it for a lyric. He no longer lives there. So, if you read this interview and you want to visit 88 Carroll Street, I can't vouch for who lives there now."-Dick V.<br /> <br /> He has said a couple of times the 88 reference was coincidental... but Valentine loves to be aloof (like when he says 90% of the songs are about nothing). But no matter the reference, I think this song is about roles in society and being stuck in them. Not being able to evolve into something else.<br /> <br /> The punks are supposed to be the ones that were going to destroy the system... but it almost as that scene has added to it rather than curtail it.