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.
How can I tell you
That I love you,
I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you
That I'm always thinking of you...
I'm always thinking of you,
But my words just blow away,
Just blow away
It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can't think of right words to say
Wherever I am girl,
I'm always walking with you
I'm always walking with you,
But I look and you're not there
Whoever I'm with,
I'm always, always talking to you
I'm always talking to you,
And I'm sad that you can't hear,
Sad that you can't hear
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
When I look and you're not there
I need to know you,
Need to feel my arms around you
Feel my arms surround you,
Like a sea around a shore
Each night and day I pray,
In hope that I might find you,
In hope that I might find you,
Because heart's can do no more
Can do no more
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
Still I kneel upon the floor
How can I tell you
That I love you,
I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you
That I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you....
It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can't think of right words to say
That I love you,
I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you
That I'm always thinking of you...
I'm always thinking of you,
But my words just blow away,
Just blow away
It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can't think of right words to say
Wherever I am girl,
I'm always walking with you
I'm always walking with you,
But I look and you're not there
Whoever I'm with,
I'm always, always talking to you
I'm always talking to you,
And I'm sad that you can't hear,
Sad that you can't hear
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
When I look and you're not there
I need to know you,
Need to feel my arms around you
Feel my arms surround you,
Like a sea around a shore
Each night and day I pray,
In hope that I might find you,
In hope that I might find you,
Because heart's can do no more
Can do no more
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
Still I kneel upon the floor
How can I tell you
That I love you,
I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you
That I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you....
It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can't think of right words to say
Lyrics submitted by H-bomb, edited by Hipnoticed
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
I like the re-dub by Cat Powers for the de Beers holiday commercial where a man sneaks to a window, gets a necklace and comes to bed, places it on her neck and pretends to sleep again.
She only sings "How can I tell you that I love you, I love you but I can't think of right words to say I long to tell you that I'm always thinking of you I'm always thinking of you, but my words" in the commercial and never re-recorded the whole song. So you cannot get it on itunes or other.
But I think she did the song justice with more emphasis and beauty of her voice than Cat Stevens did.