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.
I am not the only traveler
Who has not repaid his debt
I've been searching for a trail to follow again
Take me back to the night we met
And then I can tell myself
What the hell I'm supposed to do
And then I can tell myself
Not to ride along with you
I had all and then most of you
Some and now none of you
Take me back to the night we met
I don't know what I'm supposed to do
Haunted by the ghost of you
Oh, take me back to the night we met
When the night was full of terrors
And your eyes were filled with tears
When you had not touched me yet
Oh, take me back to the night we met
I had all and then most of you
Some and now none of you
Take me back to the night we met
I don't know what I'm supposed to do
Haunted by the ghost of you
Take me back to the night we met
Who has not repaid his debt
I've been searching for a trail to follow again
Take me back to the night we met
And then I can tell myself
What the hell I'm supposed to do
And then I can tell myself
Not to ride along with you
I had all and then most of you
Some and now none of you
Take me back to the night we met
I don't know what I'm supposed to do
Haunted by the ghost of you
Oh, take me back to the night we met
When the night was full of terrors
And your eyes were filled with tears
When you had not touched me yet
Oh, take me back to the night we met
I had all and then most of you
Some and now none of you
Take me back to the night we met
I don't know what I'm supposed to do
Haunted by the ghost of you
Take me back to the night we met
Lyrics submitted by rockisgroovy, edited by godofanime
The Night We Met Lyrics as written by Benjamin Emery Schneider
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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!
When I first heard, and re-listened to, this song from “13 Reasons Why”, I was focused on the loss felt by the characters in the show, and internalizing my own grief over my fathers recent death.
I interpreted this song as missing someone after they are gone. Wanting to go back to the day you first met them in order to relive that moment, and all the moments after with them.
“And then I can tell myself Not to ride along with you” I must admit I have contemplated suicide so that I can see him again - these lyrics loosely ‘tell me’ not to.
“When the night was full of terrors And your eyes were filled with tears When you had not touched me yet” This could reflect my birth, right before my dad first held me.
The rest is just not knowing what do to with him gone.
Reading the other comments and talking about the song with others, it’s clear that it’s originally about someone who never wanted to get together with a now ex.
@laurenturow I can relate to your point of view. A year ago I lost my grandmother who was like a mother/father to me. It gets easier, think of all the things he wanted you to live and use it as motivation.
@laurenturow @notonlyme perhaps the enduring message of the song is that with these tragedies we need to keep moving on ... because unfortunately we can not be taken back to the night we met to avoid the pain.
@laurenturow whatever made you think that your suicide would reunite you with your father??!! unless you felt that he's gone to eternal damnation? 'cause that's where you'd end up if you took that step. Please seek some help, girl. <br /> You WILL reunite one day, as long as you choose the path you were meant to follow. <br /> Let's all pray to give Lauren the strength to do this.
@bigmutt I suppose it would depend on their beliefs ... and what exactly reunite would mean to them.
@laurenturow Thank you for sharing. I recently lost my ex who is also the father of my beautiful twin 5 year old boys. I heard this song on the radio, and started to seek out the lyrics, trying to see if the writer had also lost someone, and this song was sharing his heartache... After reading most responses, I agree, it's most likely about a break-up. But it was comforting, to see that you felt the same meanings that came to me originally too. <br /> <br /> It's interesting, the comfort that comes when someone else has felt your same pain, and is going through similar heartache that you are. I'm so sorry you lost your father, loss of someone so close to you is devastating. A song that has really been a source of comfort and acceptance, that I hope might bring you some comfort as well is called "Fly Away" by thefatrat (don't get thrown off by the band name :) ). <br /> <br /> Thanks again for sharing :)