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.
Standing on the corner
Suitcase in my hand
Jack is in his corset, and Jane is her vest
And me, I'm in a rock 'n roll band, ha
Ridin' in a Stutz Bearcat, Jim
You know, those were different times
Oh, all the poets, they studied rules of verse
And those ladies, they rolled their eyes
Sweet Jane, whoa
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
I'll tell you something, Jack, he is a banker
And Jane, she is a clerk
And both of them save their monies, ha
And when, when they come home from work
Ooh, sittin' down by the fire, oh
The radio does play
The classical music there, Jim
"The March of the Wooden Soldiers"
All you protest kids
You can hear Jack say, get ready, ah
Sweet Jane, ah, come on, baby
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
Some people, they like to go out dancing
And other peoples, they have to work, just watch me now
And there's even some evil mothers
Well, they're gonna tell you that everything is just dirt
You know that women never really faint
And that villains always blink their eyes, ooh
And that, you know, children are the only ones who blush
And that life is just to die
But everyone who ever had a heart
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and break it
And anyone who ever played a part
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and hate it
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her when he smiles, ah
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her, hey, when she smiles
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Suitcase in my hand
Jack is in his corset, and Jane is her vest
And me, I'm in a rock 'n roll band, ha
Ridin' in a Stutz Bearcat, Jim
You know, those were different times
Oh, all the poets, they studied rules of verse
And those ladies, they rolled their eyes
Sweet Jane, whoa
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
I'll tell you something, Jack, he is a banker
And Jane, she is a clerk
And both of them save their monies, ha
And when, when they come home from work
Ooh, sittin' down by the fire, oh
The radio does play
The classical music there, Jim
"The March of the Wooden Soldiers"
All you protest kids
You can hear Jack say, get ready, ah
Sweet Jane, ah, come on, baby
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
Some people, they like to go out dancing
And other peoples, they have to work, just watch me now
And there's even some evil mothers
Well, they're gonna tell you that everything is just dirt
You know that women never really faint
And that villains always blink their eyes, ooh
And that, you know, children are the only ones who blush
And that life is just to die
But everyone who ever had a heart
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and break it
And anyone who ever played a part
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and hate it
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her when he smiles, ah
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her, hey, when she smiles
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Lyrics submitted by capitol76, edited by rosalyre, Mellow_Harsher, Dianimal66, zhizhumao
Sweet Jane Lyrics as written by Lou Reed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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The singer is in transit. He does not currently have a real home. He is literately and figuratively "on the corner". He once again has to choose a path
He sees a seemingly wealthy couple. Well dressed and driving an expensive classic Stutz Bearcat circa WWI (current year is 1969).
Jack is a rich older man who holds a senior position in a bank. He is fought in WWI. Jane is a younger woman who is only a clerk
Jack turns to Jane and brags about himself. He is a proud man. Proud of his wealth and the much younger woman by his side.
The singer watches as Jack drives the Bearcat and turns to speak to the younger woman and briefly imagines what extremes the rich man might resort to hold the interest of the younger woman.
The singer imagines the older Jack saying something desperately glib like "Me, babe, I'm in a rock n' roll band"
Then the Stutz Bearcat brings to the singer's mind images of romance in the WW1 era.
He has a fleeting fantasy about proper Gentlemen writing poetry to seemingly innocent young women wanting more than words.
Both Jack and Jane save their money. Jack because he hoards it. Jane is young and hoping for a future as Jack's wife not simply his current mistress.
After work they simply go to Jack's home Later sitting by the fireplace Jack plays classical music on the radio. Tchaikovsky's "March of The Toy Soldiers".
With Tchaikovsky in the background Jack begins to repeat again to young Jane the stories of heroism and battle from his youth during The Great War
Then the singer thinks about life while watching Jack and Jane:
Some are born to a good and easy life The rest of us have to struggle and work
They are some dangerous people that will tell you life means nothing and that what we experience in life is just a lie Because only the real truth in life is death
But what they say is false Because isn't it true that anyone who is truly loved would never hurt the other
And anyone who truly gives their love to another; that love must be real
Sweet Jane
IMO, The first portion of the song is a story the second part a short meditation on life and those who say it has no meaning and contains nothing real. .
The singer uses the act loving someone and of being loved as proof that life actually does have meaning and contains at least one thing that is undeniably real. Love.
Jack, Jane and the WWI era car Jack is driving, an expensive ostentatious Stutz Bearcat are all in view of the singer.
The story of Jack and Jane and the meditation on the meaning of life all take place within the singer’s mind in a few seconds as Jack and Jane pass by him while he stands on the corner of the street.
@BillyBobCohen, I like where you're going with that, but the Bearcat is in a stanza that's talking about the past. So that part of your interpretation doesn't fit.<br /> <br /> I think Jack is an older guy, Jane works for him, Jack's banging Jane, and they've both got their kink on. And the "different times" may be looking back to the time of Jack's youth, in the 20s.
Also, I think the narrator's in transit because, like many people who play in bands, he's either going on the road or just coming back.