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.
All day long she holds it back
Back with all her might
She carries a burnin' torch inside
She holds it firm and tight
She punches out the clock
While it keeps punchin' out her life
She's a flamethrower, red-hot glower
Flamethrower at night
The things she wears at work
They hang off her kinda loose
Her blouse don't fit, the pants ain't right
She ain't no front page news
But when her work is done
And the daytime turns to night
The headlines flash in neon
That the girl has taken flight
Chairman of the board
Won't look her in the eye
The fire of her vision
His money just can't buy
Silently she waits
Silently she contemplates
She can make 'em tremble
You know the reason why
[Chorus]
She's a flame, flamethrower
She's a flamethrower at night
She's a flame, a red-hot glower
She's a flamethrower at night
You might think you're burnin'
All your candles at both ends
Maybe you should go to church
To make up some amends
But if you think you're fireproof
So cool and much too much
Don't dare go near my baby
Cause she'll melt you with her touch
I forget the darkness
I forget the pain
When she's movin' through my heart
And when she's pumpin' through my veins
She's the part inside me
I never can control
And she's the only reason
I know I've got a soul
[Chorus]
Back with all her might
She carries a burnin' torch inside
She holds it firm and tight
She punches out the clock
While it keeps punchin' out her life
She's a flamethrower, red-hot glower
Flamethrower at night
The things she wears at work
They hang off her kinda loose
Her blouse don't fit, the pants ain't right
She ain't no front page news
But when her work is done
And the daytime turns to night
The headlines flash in neon
That the girl has taken flight
Chairman of the board
Won't look her in the eye
The fire of her vision
His money just can't buy
Silently she waits
Silently she contemplates
She can make 'em tremble
You know the reason why
[Chorus]
She's a flame, flamethrower
She's a flamethrower at night
She's a flame, a red-hot glower
She's a flamethrower at night
You might think you're burnin'
All your candles at both ends
Maybe you should go to church
To make up some amends
But if you think you're fireproof
So cool and much too much
Don't dare go near my baby
Cause she'll melt you with her touch
I forget the darkness
I forget the pain
When she's movin' through my heart
And when she's pumpin' through my veins
She's the part inside me
I never can control
And she's the only reason
I know I've got a soul
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by NorthernThunder
Flamethrower Lyrics as written by Seth Justman
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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OK, first of all, it does t really matter what the song is “about” because it ROCKS, but I’ve narrowed the possible meanings down to (2):
1) It’s a guy whose girlfriend doesn’t look like much at work because she just goes there to get through the day/make money so she can go out at night and forget the day…and once she gets out at night she’s 180 degrees removed from her daytime persona…
2) It’s a guy who is so secure with himself that he can admit to himself that the only thing that makes him “human” or at least “feel like a human” is his feminine side.