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 don't like the news then press eject
Bette Davis getting older, can't take a rain check
It's time to let 'em know what we expect
Stop building SUVs strung out on OPEC
Hold up, wait up you know we come correct
You wanna change things up, well, hey then get set
It's easier to sit back than stick out your neck
It's easier to break it than build it correct
We've got a president we didn't elect
The Kyoto treaty he decided to neglect
And still the US just wants to flex
Keep doin' that bop we gonna break our necks
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(You gots to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill)
Ey yo, hate-filled people wanna keep us in check
Tearin' down each other is what they expect
If you want love, well hey that's a bet
We've got to give before we can get
Waiting like a batter who is on deck
When it's time to wreck shop then shop I'll wreck
So let's calibrate and check our specs
We need a little shift on over towards the left
I don't really know but I suspect
I think it's due time that we inspect
How they get their information and their facts are checked
Another press conference someone's talking out their neck
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(You gots to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill)
So step up to the window and place your bets
Is the US gonna keep breaking necks?
Maybe it's time that we impeach Tex
And the military muscle that he wants to flex
By the time Bush is done what will be left?
Selling votes like E-pills up in the discotheque
Environmental destruction and the national dept
But plenty of dollars left in the fat war chest
What the real deal why you can't connect
Why you hating people that you never met
Didn't your mama teach you to show some respect?
Why not open your mind for a sec?
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(You gots to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill)
Bette Davis getting older, can't take a rain check
It's time to let 'em know what we expect
Stop building SUVs strung out on OPEC
Hold up, wait up you know we come correct
You wanna change things up, well, hey then get set
It's easier to sit back than stick out your neck
It's easier to break it than build it correct
We've got a president we didn't elect
The Kyoto treaty he decided to neglect
And still the US just wants to flex
Keep doin' that bop we gonna break our necks
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(You gots to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill)
Ey yo, hate-filled people wanna keep us in check
Tearin' down each other is what they expect
If you want love, well hey that's a bet
We've got to give before we can get
Waiting like a batter who is on deck
When it's time to wreck shop then shop I'll wreck
So let's calibrate and check our specs
We need a little shift on over towards the left
I don't really know but I suspect
I think it's due time that we inspect
How they get their information and their facts are checked
Another press conference someone's talking out their neck
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(You gots to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill)
So step up to the window and place your bets
Is the US gonna keep breaking necks?
Maybe it's time that we impeach Tex
And the military muscle that he wants to flex
By the time Bush is done what will be left?
Selling votes like E-pills up in the discotheque
Environmental destruction and the national dept
But plenty of dollars left in the fat war chest
What the real deal why you can't connect
Why you hating people that you never met
Didn't your mama teach you to show some respect?
Why not open your mind for a sec?
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(It takes a second to wreck it) it takes time to build
(You gots to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill, to chill)
Lyrics submitted by Mushmouth Joe
Time to Build Lyrics as written by Adam Nathaniel Yauch Adam Horovitz
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"You gots to chill"- EPMD.
Time To Build has a very positive message. It referred to Americans rebuilding what had been destroyed instead of blindly invading every middle eastern country with oil. Unfortunately, we did both. Now, with Obama's term almost over or about to be renewed for another 4 years & the killing still hasn't stopped.