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.
Fair play to you
Killarney's lakes are so blue
And the architecture I'm taking in with my mind
So fine
Tell me of Poe
Oscar Wilde and Thoreau
Let your midnight and your daytime turn into love of life
It's a very fine line
But you've got the mind child
To carry on
When it's just about to be
Carried on
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
There's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
A paperback book
As we walk down the street
Fill my mind with tales of mystery, mystery
And imagination
Forever fair
And I'm touching your hair
I wish we could be dreamers
In this dream, oh
Let it dream
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
Fair play to you
Killarney's lakes are so blue
High-ho silver, tit for tat
And I love you for that
High-ho silver, tit for tat
And I love you for that, love you for that, love you for that
High-ho silver, tit for tat, tit for tat
And I love you for that
High-ho silver, tit for tat, hah!
Yeah, yeah
And I love you for that
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And I, and I say "Geronimo"
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And we say "Geronimo"
Geronimo
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And we say Geronimo
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And we say Geronimo
Fair play to you
Killarney's lakes are so blue
And the architecture I'm taking in with my mind
So fine
Tell me of Poe
Oscar Wilde and Thoreau
Let your midnight and your daytime turn into love of life
It's a very fine line
But you've got the mind child
To carry on
When it's just about to be
Carried on
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
There's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
A paperback book
As we walk down the street
Fill my mind with tales of mystery, mystery
And imagination
Forever fair
And I'm touching your hair
I wish we could be dreamers
In this dream, oh
Let it dream
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And you say "Geronimo"
Fair play to you
Killarney's lakes are so blue
High-ho silver, tit for tat
And I love you for that
High-ho silver, tit for tat
And I love you for that, love you for that, love you for that
High-ho silver, tit for tat, tit for tat
And I love you for that
High-ho silver, tit for tat, hah!
Yeah, yeah
And I love you for that
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And I, and I say "Geronimo"
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And we say "Geronimo"
Geronimo
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And we say Geronimo
And there's only one meadow's way to go
And we say Geronimo
Fair play to you
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira
Fair Play Lyrics as written by Van Morrison
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The song is all about Van coming to terms with his divorce from Janet and accepting that he was to blame for it.
From 1971-1973, The Morrisons lived in San Geronimo, California, on Meadow Way. There's no #1 Meadow way, or at least not anymore.
Fair play to you is about the time Van's wife Janet took Vans only rock star indulgence, a silver Mercedes, packed all her things in it, as well as Shana, their daughter whom Van adored and left him - not to speak to him again until 1994. "Fair Play To You" says Van, because he deserved it (he was a dark, angry man in the early mid 70's due to him resenting the impositions of fame and resenting that he wasn't as famous as he thought his talent and hard work should have made him). He wronged her through hubris, she took his symbol of hubris. Tit for tat.
The simplest explanation is usually right. :-)
@seb1158631 That sounds like it is the best answer and makes sense. Thanks!