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.
On and on
You're told which side you're on
You're forced, you're thrown
To become side as to cut the corn
Aah
And all your friends they
Ride into the sunset
Fly into the sunset
And away they blow
And all your friends they
Ride into the sunset
Fly into the sunset
And away they're thrown
Into the fire
Ten below
The call come on the radio
Ahh
Over you go
And the red now all the rivers flow
The poppies grow
All your friends they
Ride into the sunset
Fly into the sunset
And away they're blown
All your friends they
Ride into the sunset
Arrive into the sunset
And they're taken home
Open fire
Open fire
Open fire
Open fire
Open fire
And fire
Just arrived, the fire
You're told which side you're on
You're forced, you're thrown
To become side as to cut the corn
Aah
And all your friends they
Ride into the sunset
Fly into the sunset
And away they blow
And all your friends they
Ride into the sunset
Fly into the sunset
And away they're thrown
Into the fire
Ten below
The call come on the radio
Ahh
Over you go
And the red now all the rivers flow
The poppies grow
All your friends they
Ride into the sunset
Fly into the sunset
And away they're blown
All your friends they
Ride into the sunset
Arrive into the sunset
And they're taken home
Open fire
Open fire
Open fire
Open fire
Open fire
And fire
Just arrived, the fire
Lyrics submitted by AnUser, edited by JamothMcGowan
All Your Friends Lyrics as written by Guy Rupert Berryman Christopher Anthony John Martin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
It's very clearly about World War I.
All your friends are your fellow soldiers. As a soldier, you're told which side you have to fight on. You're forced to obey orders. You have no choice.
The ride into the sunset part is referring to the mass of people dying as they come over the trenches and get torn down by the enemy. It's doubled down on by the "into the fire" line. They're all getting slaughtered.
The 10 below, call come on the radio verse is the general giving orders. You're freezing in your trench. Over you go to face the enemy. Red the rivers flow is obviously pools of blood.
Poppies grow is a direct reference to "In Flanders Fields" - a poem about the red poppies that grew on the fields following the battles. It's the symbol for soldiers who have fallen in combat.