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.
This house is like Russia
With eyes cold and gray
You got me moving in a circle
I dyed my hair red today
I just want a little passion
To hold me in the dark
I know I've got some magic
Buried deep in my heart yeah
But my priest says
You ain't saving no souls
My father says
You ain't making any money
My doctor says
You just took it to the limit
And here I stand
With this sword in my hand
You can say it one more time
What you don't like
Let me hear it one more time then
Have a seat while I
Take to the sky
My heart is like the ocean
It gets in the way
So close to touching freedom
Then I hear the guards call my name
But my priest says
You ain't taking no souls
My father says
You ain't making any money
My doctor says
You just took it to the limit
And here I stand
With this sword in my hand
You can say it one more time
What you don't like
Let me hear it one more time then
Have a seat while I
Take to the sky
If you don't like me just a little
Why do you hang around
(There she goes again
Wearing those purple panties
There she goes again
Wearing her heart
There she goes again)
Why do you
Take it
You can say it one more time
You can say it one more time
You can say it one more time
What you don't like
Let me hear it one more time then
Have a seat while I
Take to the sky
With eyes cold and gray
You got me moving in a circle
I dyed my hair red today
I just want a little passion
To hold me in the dark
I know I've got some magic
Buried deep in my heart yeah
But my priest says
You ain't saving no souls
My father says
You ain't making any money
My doctor says
You just took it to the limit
And here I stand
With this sword in my hand
You can say it one more time
What you don't like
Let me hear it one more time then
Have a seat while I
Take to the sky
My heart is like the ocean
It gets in the way
So close to touching freedom
Then I hear the guards call my name
But my priest says
You ain't taking no souls
My father says
You ain't making any money
My doctor says
You just took it to the limit
And here I stand
With this sword in my hand
You can say it one more time
What you don't like
Let me hear it one more time then
Have a seat while I
Take to the sky
If you don't like me just a little
Why do you hang around
(There she goes again
Wearing those purple panties
There she goes again
Wearing her heart
There she goes again)
Why do you
Take it
You can say it one more time
You can say it one more time
You can say it one more time
What you don't like
Let me hear it one more time then
Have a seat while I
Take to the sky
Lyrics submitted by merchantpierce
Take to the Sky Lyrics as written by Tori Amos
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this is such an empowering song. she's saying she's tired of giving a shit, she's gonna take off, do what she wants, live her own life, without caring about what other people think. i love the "if you don't like me just a little well why do you hang around?" line. she's tired of people judging her: if they don't like they way she lives, that's their problem, after all.