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.
If you love somebody
Better tell them why they're here 'cause
They just may run away from you
You'll never know what went well
Then again it just depends on
How long of time is left for you
I've had the highest mountains
I've had the deepest rivers
You can have it all but life keeps movin'
Now take it in but don't look down
'Cause I'm on top of the world, ayy
I'm on top of the world, ayy
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I've been waiting to smile, ayy
Been holding it in for a while, ayy
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I'm on top of the world
I've tried to cut these corners
Try to take the easy way out
I kept on falling short of something
I coulda gave up then but
Then again I couldn't have 'cause
I've traveled all this way for something
I take it in but don't look down
'Cause I'm on top of the world, ayy
I'm on top of the world, ayy
Been waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I've been waiting to smile, ayy
Been holding it in for a while, ayy
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I'm on top of the world
'Cause I'm on top of the world, ayy
I'm on top of the world, ayy
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I've been waiting to smile, ayy
Been holding it in for a while, ayy
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
And I know it's hard when you're falling down
And it's a long way up when you hit the ground
But get up now, get up, get up now
And I know it's hard when you're falling down
And it's a long way up when you hit the ground
Get up now, get up, get up now
'Cause I'm on top of the world, ayy
I'm on top of the world, ayy
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I've been waiting to smile, ayy
Been holding it in for a while, ayy
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I'm on top of the world
Better tell them why they're here 'cause
They just may run away from you
You'll never know what went well
Then again it just depends on
How long of time is left for you
I've had the highest mountains
I've had the deepest rivers
You can have it all but life keeps movin'
Now take it in but don't look down
'Cause I'm on top of the world, ayy
I'm on top of the world, ayy
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I've been waiting to smile, ayy
Been holding it in for a while, ayy
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I'm on top of the world
I've tried to cut these corners
Try to take the easy way out
I kept on falling short of something
I coulda gave up then but
Then again I couldn't have 'cause
I've traveled all this way for something
I take it in but don't look down
'Cause I'm on top of the world, ayy
I'm on top of the world, ayy
Been waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I've been waiting to smile, ayy
Been holding it in for a while, ayy
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I'm on top of the world
'Cause I'm on top of the world, ayy
I'm on top of the world, ayy
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I've been waiting to smile, ayy
Been holding it in for a while, ayy
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
And I know it's hard when you're falling down
And it's a long way up when you hit the ground
But get up now, get up, get up now
And I know it's hard when you're falling down
And it's a long way up when you hit the ground
Get up now, get up, get up now
'Cause I'm on top of the world, ayy
I'm on top of the world, ayy
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I've been waiting to smile, ayy
Been holding it in for a while, ayy
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I'm on top of the world
Lyrics submitted by LiveInImagination, edited by cassom, Morganna
On Top Of The World Lyrics as written by Benjamin Arthur Mckee Alexander Junior Grant
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It seems to me this is someone who has had a goal all their life, and now that he's fulfilling that mission he is trying to remind himself this is what he wanted, successfully I might add. Nice inspirational piece. I like it better with the lyrics.
@Yzermaneely I feel like enough time has passed that I can actually say it without encryption. This song is about his religious mission he went on to Nebraska when he was a young man. You'd have to understand LDS culture to fully get all the nuance.