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.
Bring your own lampshade, somewhere there's a party
Hear it's never endin', can't remember when it started
Pass around the lampshade, there'll be plenty enough room in jail
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
Being strong and kind, I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
At the swingin' party down the line
Pound the prairie pavement, losin' proposition
Quittin' school and goin' to work and never goin' fishin'
Water all around, never learning how to swim now
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
If being strong and kind, then I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
At the swingin' party down the line, li-li-line
At the swingin' party down the line
Bring your own lampshade, somewhere there's a party
Hear it's never endin', can't remember when it started
Pass around the lampshade, there'll be plenty enough room in jail
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
Being strong is what you want, then I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
At the swingin' party down the line
Every valentine at the swingin' party down the line
Catch you down at the swingin' party down the line
Hear it's never endin', can't remember when it started
Pass around the lampshade, there'll be plenty enough room in jail
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
Being strong and kind, I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
At the swingin' party down the line
Pound the prairie pavement, losin' proposition
Quittin' school and goin' to work and never goin' fishin'
Water all around, never learning how to swim now
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
If being strong and kind, then I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
At the swingin' party down the line, li-li-line
At the swingin' party down the line
Bring your own lampshade, somewhere there's a party
Hear it's never endin', can't remember when it started
Pass around the lampshade, there'll be plenty enough room in jail
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
Being strong is what you want, then I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
At the swingin' party down the line
Every valentine at the swingin' party down the line
Catch you down at the swingin' party down the line
Lyrics submitted by krushzed, edited by gilbert113
Swingin Party Lyrics as written by Paul Westerberg
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I've always thought "lampshade" refers to the stereotypical image of the drunken person as wearing a lampshade on his/her head while reveling. Google "lampshade drunk" for plentiful examples.
"Bring your own" is a play on "bring your own beer," which is, or was, a common stipulation for parties in which drink is/was not provided.
@paul839025 Expanding on this a bit - wearing a lampshade means you are the life of the party. The drunk meaning dates to the 1920s, but before that it was a common gag in silent film. Basically, he is saying bring a lampshade so we can all be the life of the party. There's obviously more joking going on here because "somewhere there's a party, here it's never ending can't remember when it started," so he's saying it while already at a party and the party has gone on for some time.