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.
Gitchy, gitchy
Ooh la la
Da doo ron ron
You won't get far
I'm machine
I'm obsolete
In the land of the free
Lobotomy
I wanna suck, I wanna lick
I want to cry and I want to spit
Tears of pleasure
Tears of pain
They trickle down your face the same
It's how you look
Not how you feel
A city of glass
With no heart
If I had a tail
I'd own the night
If I had a tail
I'd swat the flies
Yeah, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Yeah, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Gitchy, gitchy
Ooh la la
Da doo ron ron
It won't get far
Animals in
The midnight zone
When you own the world
You're always home
Get your hands dirty
Roll up them sleeves
Brainwashed or true believers?
Buy flash cars
Diamond rings
Expensive holes to bury things
I'm machine
I'm obsolete
In the land of the free
Immortality
If I had a tail
I'd own the place
If I had a tail
I'd swat the flies
Oh-oh-oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
See me dancing on the stars
See me dance
If I have a tail
I will control the night
If I have a tail
I will control the night
If I have a tail
I will control the night
Ooh la la
Da doo ron ron
You won't get far
I'm machine
I'm obsolete
In the land of the free
Lobotomy
I wanna suck, I wanna lick
I want to cry and I want to spit
Tears of pleasure
Tears of pain
They trickle down your face the same
It's how you look
Not how you feel
A city of glass
With no heart
If I had a tail
I'd own the night
If I had a tail
I'd swat the flies
Yeah, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Yeah, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Gitchy, gitchy
Ooh la la
Da doo ron ron
It won't get far
Animals in
The midnight zone
When you own the world
You're always home
Get your hands dirty
Roll up them sleeves
Brainwashed or true believers?
Buy flash cars
Diamond rings
Expensive holes to bury things
I'm machine
I'm obsolete
In the land of the free
Immortality
If I had a tail
I'd own the place
If I had a tail
I'd swat the flies
Oh-oh-oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
See me dancing on the stars
See me dance
If I have a tail
I will control the night
If I have a tail
I will control the night
If I have a tail
I will control the night
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by Disen, sbutros1, stealthissound, wampaking, Cassabian, sparna, Hivnom, MilkManMike, thisendworld, TheBronze, Niamh168, TransMetalhead
If I Had a Tail Lyrics as written by Josh Homme Dean Anthony Fertita
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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Rather than "having a tail" representing being some sort of sociopath or rapist, it looks more like that's the natural state, like being an animal. This is opposed to the unnatural, machine-like, superficial state that humanity, and specifically Americans, find themselves in, where surface appearances matter more than substance.
So, "if I had a tail" would mean "if I could be myself and not worry about it". It's aspirational, which matches the mood and tone of the song. If I had a tail, I'd swat the flies. If I could be like an animal, I'd get rid of the superficial annoyances.