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.
Ladies and gentlemen
The president of the united states!
"Fella Americans, doot, doot, doot..."
He's been sick!--doot! doot!
And I think his wife is gonna bring him
Some chicken soap
Plastic people!
Oh, baby, now you're such a drag
I know it's hard to defend an unpopular policy
Every once in a while
Plastic people!
Oh, baby, now you're such a drag
And there's this guy from the cia he's creepin'
Around laurel canyon
A fine little girl she waits for me
She's as plastic as she can be
She paints her face with plastic goo
And wrecks her hair with some shampoo
Plastic people
Oh, baby, now you're such a drag
"I dunno, sometimes I just get tired
Of ya honey, it's...ah..your
Hair spray, or something..."
Plastic people
Oh, baby, now you're such a drag
"I hear the sound of marching feet...
Down sunset boulevard to crescent heights
And there...at pandora's box...
We are confronted with...a vast
Quantity of, plastic people..."
Take a day and walk around
Watch the nazi's run your town
Then go home and check yourself
You think we're singing
'Bout someone else
But you're plastic people
Oh, baby, now
You're such a drag
Me see a neon moon above
I searched for years I found no love
I'm sure that love will never be
A product of plasticity
A product of plasticity
Plastic, plastic people, pla-ha-ha-ha
Ha-plastic, you are, your foot, your hair
Your nose, your arms--you suck--you love
You are, your being is, you're plastic--blah
Blah, blah, blah plastic peoples
A prune is not a vegetable
Cabbage is a vegetable; makes it o.k.
Plastic people, plastic people
You dream about, you think about, you eat
You are, ooo-hoo-hoo...
Purple prancing--plastic people-
Pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-peep!
The president of the united states!
"Fella Americans, doot, doot, doot..."
He's been sick!--doot! doot!
And I think his wife is gonna bring him
Some chicken soap
Plastic people!
Oh, baby, now you're such a drag
I know it's hard to defend an unpopular policy
Every once in a while
Plastic people!
Oh, baby, now you're such a drag
And there's this guy from the cia he's creepin'
Around laurel canyon
A fine little girl she waits for me
She's as plastic as she can be
She paints her face with plastic goo
And wrecks her hair with some shampoo
Plastic people
Oh, baby, now you're such a drag
"I dunno, sometimes I just get tired
Of ya honey, it's...ah..your
Hair spray, or something..."
Plastic people
Oh, baby, now you're such a drag
"I hear the sound of marching feet...
Down sunset boulevard to crescent heights
And there...at pandora's box...
We are confronted with...a vast
Quantity of, plastic people..."
Take a day and walk around
Watch the nazi's run your town
Then go home and check yourself
You think we're singing
'Bout someone else
But you're plastic people
Oh, baby, now
You're such a drag
Me see a neon moon above
I searched for years I found no love
I'm sure that love will never be
A product of plasticity
A product of plasticity
Plastic, plastic people, pla-ha-ha-ha
Ha-plastic, you are, your foot, your hair
Your nose, your arms--you suck--you love
You are, your being is, you're plastic--blah
Blah, blah, blah plastic peoples
A prune is not a vegetable
Cabbage is a vegetable; makes it o.k.
Plastic people, plastic people
You dream about, you think about, you eat
You are, ooo-hoo-hoo...
Purple prancing--plastic people-
Pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-peep!
Lyrics submitted by ThreeMilesDown
Plastic People Lyrics as written by Frank Zappa
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's about YOU. And I've allowed you to waste too much of my time; my life is too valuable to give you another thought!