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.
Hanging out on Second Avenue
Eating chicken vindaloo
I just want to be with you
I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, well alright
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Wait, now
Wait, now
Hanging out all by myself
I don't want to be with anybody else
I just want to be with you
I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, well alright
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Wait, now
Wait, now
Wait, now
Wait, now
Hanging out all by myself
I don't want to be with anybody else
I just want to be with you
I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, well alright
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Eating chicken vindaloo
I just want to be with you
I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, well alright
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Wait, now
Wait, now
Hanging out all by myself
I don't want to be with anybody else
I just want to be with you
I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, well alright
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Wait, now
Wait, now
Wait, now
Wait, now
Hanging out all by myself
I don't want to be with anybody else
I just want to be with you
I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, well alright
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
I Just Want to Have Something to Do Lyrics as written by Jeff Hyman Douglas Colvin
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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As someone who actually was alive when this song was released, I can say that they are commenting about a problem youth was having back then. TV was quite boring in the evening, and ended at midnight. There was no internet or video games then. Also the economy was in a big downturn (much like it is now.) The average kid of the time pretty much had nothing to do other than sit around.