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 saw you at the police station and it breaks my heart to say
Your eyes had wandered off to something distant, cold and grey
I guess you didn't see it coming
Someone's gotten used to slumming
Dreaming of the golden years
I see you had to change careers
Far away, but we both know it's somewhere
I saw you on the back page of some free press yesterday
The drift wood in your eyes said nothing short of love for pain
I know you from another picture
Of someone with the most convictions
We used to read the funny papers
Fooled around and pulled some capers
Not today, send a message to her
A message that I'm coming, coming to pursue her
Down your country I rest my face on your bed
I've got you ten times over, I'll chase you down 'til you're dead
I saw you on a TV station and it made me wanna pray
An empty shell of loveliness is now dusted with decay
What happened to the funny paper?
Smiling was your money maker
Someone oughta situate her
Find a way to educate her
All the way, time to come and find you
But you can't hide from me girl, so never mind what I do
Down your country I rest my face on your bed
I bet my sovereign country and I left it all for your head
I saw you in the church and there was no time to exchange
You were getting married and it felt so very strange
I guess I didn't see it coming
And now I guess it's me who's bumming
Dreaming of the golden years
You and I were mixing tears
Not today, not for me but someone
I never could get used to, so now I will refuse to
Down your country I rest my face on your bed
I bet my sovereign country and I left it all for your head
I got my best foot forward and I'll chase you down 'til you're dead
Your eyes had wandered off to something distant, cold and grey
I guess you didn't see it coming
Someone's gotten used to slumming
Dreaming of the golden years
I see you had to change careers
Far away, but we both know it's somewhere
I saw you on the back page of some free press yesterday
The drift wood in your eyes said nothing short of love for pain
I know you from another picture
Of someone with the most convictions
We used to read the funny papers
Fooled around and pulled some capers
Not today, send a message to her
A message that I'm coming, coming to pursue her
Down your country I rest my face on your bed
I've got you ten times over, I'll chase you down 'til you're dead
I saw you on a TV station and it made me wanna pray
An empty shell of loveliness is now dusted with decay
What happened to the funny paper?
Smiling was your money maker
Someone oughta situate her
Find a way to educate her
All the way, time to come and find you
But you can't hide from me girl, so never mind what I do
Down your country I rest my face on your bed
I bet my sovereign country and I left it all for your head
I saw you in the church and there was no time to exchange
You were getting married and it felt so very strange
I guess I didn't see it coming
And now I guess it's me who's bumming
Dreaming of the golden years
You and I were mixing tears
Not today, not for me but someone
I never could get used to, so now I will refuse to
Down your country I rest my face on your bed
I bet my sovereign country and I left it all for your head
I got my best foot forward and I'll chase you down 'til you're dead
Lyrics submitted by aristuma21, edited by Kalico37
Police Station Lyrics as written by Anthony Kiedis Michael Balzary
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I thought it was kinda very straightforward. I imagined it was about someone loving someone who was lost and over the years seeing her get caught up in trouble over and over again. But then the protagonist kinda saves her and shows her what real love is but they drift apart. And finally one day she is getting married and she has her life cleaned up but the protagonist always felt that when she did find her way back it would lead her to him not to some other guy. The end is just kind of his vow that he will never let her go. Its a really amazing song.
i completely agree with you!. and yes this is really such an amazing song :)