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.
If I had a hammer
I'd wake up all my neighbors
Pounding out a rhythm
All about you
If I had a pencil
I'd push me some paper
I'd build a skyscraper
To get close to you
If I had a lasso
I'd said out the window
And land on an island
Next to you
If I had a hot rod
I'd fasten up my seat belt
And break the speed limit
Gettin' to you
But I ain't got a hammer
And I ain't got a pencil
And I ain't got a lasso
So I'm doing it the hard way
Like a post post-modern man
If I had a credit card
I'd clear me a pathway
Through the deepest jungle
Right to your door
If I had a camera
I'd snap away my fingers
And collect up the pictures
Of you, of course
But I ain't got a hot rod
And I ain't got a credit card
No chance for a camera
So I'm doing it the hard way
Like a post post-modern man
Well I ain't go a hammer
And I ain't got a lasso
No chance for a camera
So I'm doing it the hard way
I'd wake up all my neighbors
Pounding out a rhythm
All about you
If I had a pencil
I'd push me some paper
I'd build a skyscraper
To get close to you
If I had a lasso
I'd said out the window
And land on an island
Next to you
If I had a hot rod
I'd fasten up my seat belt
And break the speed limit
Gettin' to you
But I ain't got a hammer
And I ain't got a pencil
And I ain't got a lasso
So I'm doing it the hard way
Like a post post-modern man
If I had a credit card
I'd clear me a pathway
Through the deepest jungle
Right to your door
If I had a camera
I'd snap away my fingers
And collect up the pictures
Of you, of course
But I ain't got a hot rod
And I ain't got a credit card
No chance for a camera
So I'm doing it the hard way
Like a post post-modern man
Well I ain't go a hammer
And I ain't got a lasso
No chance for a camera
So I'm doing it the hard way
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Post Post-Modern Man [Album Version] Lyrics as written by Mark Allen Mothersbaugh Gerald V. Casale
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Here's a slightly different take on things. He's really talking about not slacking off and having people do things for you, or taking the easy way out. Sometimes, the roughest way out is the best way out in the long run.