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.
can't see how I can
Turn around what has been done
I was just like a child
With my eyes wide open
History and any cause
And my eyes are still open
But my mouth my mouth is shut
I'm closing off the lies
Making my own mind up
When I can I will
How many dirty little secrets
Were kept behind my back?
Men and women
Men and women
Men and women
Giving each other the sham
I don't see
How I can turn around what has been done
I was just like a child
With my eyes wide open
Hungry at any cost
Now my eyes are still open
But my mouth my mouth is shut
I'm closing out the lies and promises
Men and women
Men and women
Men and women
Giving me the sham
Giving me the sham
Giving me the sham
Men and women
Men and women
Giving me the sham
Men and women
Men and women
Giving me the sham
Turn around what has been done
I was just like a child
With my eyes wide open
History and any cause
And my eyes are still open
But my mouth my mouth is shut
I'm closing off the lies
Making my own mind up
When I can I will
How many dirty little secrets
Were kept behind my back?
Men and women
Men and women
Men and women
Giving each other the sham
I don't see
How I can turn around what has been done
I was just like a child
With my eyes wide open
Hungry at any cost
Now my eyes are still open
But my mouth my mouth is shut
I'm closing out the lies and promises
Men and women
Men and women
Men and women
Giving me the sham
Giving me the sham
Giving me the sham
Men and women
Men and women
Giving me the sham
Men and women
Men and women
Giving me the sham
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow, edited by Julesricardo
Men and Women Lyrics as written by Michael Hutchence
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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I think this is about the relationship of deception that often is evident between men and women in general and especially when it involved relationships. Either between a father and child, mother and child or wife and husband/ boyfriend and girlfriend. There is a deep and often dark deception that can develop rather subconsciously or consciously and that is what to me this song is exploring and describing from the view of (in the songs case) a child. I'm closing out the lies and promises
Men and women Men and women Men and women
Giving me the sham Giving me the sham Giving me the sham