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.
Daddy, daddy, come and look
See what I have found
A little ways away from here
While digging in the ground
Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
It's nothing, just a picture-book
They had before the war
Daddy, daddy, come and see
Daddy, come and look
Why, there's four or five
Little Melinda girls
Inside my picture book
Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
There were lots of little girls like you
Before they had the war
Oh Daddy, daddy, come and see
Daddy, hurry do
Why, there's someone
In a pretty dress
She's all grown up like you
Won't you tell me why
Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
That someone is your Mummy
You had before the war
Daddy, daddy, tell me if you can
Why can't things be
The way they were
Before the war began
Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
The answer lies in yesterday
Before they had the war
See what I have found
A little ways away from here
While digging in the ground
Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
It's nothing, just a picture-book
They had before the war
Daddy, daddy, come and see
Daddy, come and look
Why, there's four or five
Little Melinda girls
Inside my picture book
Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
There were lots of little girls like you
Before they had the war
Oh Daddy, daddy, come and see
Daddy, hurry do
Why, there's someone
In a pretty dress
She's all grown up like you
Won't you tell me why
Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
That someone is your Mummy
You had before the war
Daddy, daddy, tell me if you can
Why can't things be
The way they were
Before the war began
Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
The answer lies in yesterday
Before they had the war
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Come Away Melinda Lyrics as written by Fran Minkoff Fred Hellerman
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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It's fairly simple really. A father attempts to explain to his young daughter why she has no 'Mummy' but due to circumstances - she's died in the war - finds it difficult. It's a great song - music and words. I only know the Uriah Heep version but have loved it since the very early 70's.