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.
Woo
Alright
Bobby drives a pickup
For the corner store
Four bucks an hour
And he's hoping for more
He's twenty eight years old
And he still lives at home
Bobby's got ideas
But he ain't alone
There's a million
Bobby's across this land
Everybody's got
Real big plans
He's got something to live for
Something so real
He's got something to live for
That one, big deal
Bobby's got an uncle
He talks a mean streak
Makes more in an hour
Than Bobby in a week
He tells the boy
Don't waste your time
Be useless like your father
Nickel and dime
There's a million
Bobby's across this land
Everybody's got
Real big plans
He's got something to live for
Oh, something so real
He's got something to live for
That one, big deal
Well Bobby could'a done it
If he only tried
Could'a been a contender
Could'a been a big guy
But he didn't rob a bank
Or write a hit song
Got a raise
Married Yvonne
Yea
Turn it on
Turn it up now baby
Let's go
He's got something to live for
Something so real
He's got something to live for
That one, big deal
He's got something to live for
That one sweet deal
He's got something to live for
Ohh oh one sweet deal
He's got something to live for
That one big deal
He's got something to live for
Oh oh
Alright
Bobby drives a pickup
For the corner store
Four bucks an hour
And he's hoping for more
He's twenty eight years old
And he still lives at home
Bobby's got ideas
But he ain't alone
There's a million
Bobby's across this land
Everybody's got
Real big plans
He's got something to live for
Something so real
He's got something to live for
That one, big deal
Bobby's got an uncle
He talks a mean streak
Makes more in an hour
Than Bobby in a week
He tells the boy
Don't waste your time
Be useless like your father
Nickel and dime
There's a million
Bobby's across this land
Everybody's got
Real big plans
He's got something to live for
Oh, something so real
He's got something to live for
That one, big deal
Well Bobby could'a done it
If he only tried
Could'a been a contender
Could'a been a big guy
But he didn't rob a bank
Or write a hit song
Got a raise
Married Yvonne
Yea
Turn it on
Turn it up now baby
Let's go
He's got something to live for
Something so real
He's got something to live for
That one, big deal
He's got something to live for
That one sweet deal
He's got something to live for
Ohh oh one sweet deal
He's got something to live for
That one big deal
He's got something to live for
Oh oh
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Something to Live for Lyrics as written by Duke Ellington Billy Strayhorn
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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Always loved this song. An undervalued Canadian performer