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 could have just held my tongue
I should have just filled my lungs
Breathe in, breathe out and repeat
But you know me well, or at least in as far as I can tell
You should have known better than telling me I should have
Held it together for us, when I'm barely together myself
I'm barely together myself
I'm overthinking, everything I say and I do
Just reminds me I don't need you
'Cause there's nothing left for me to hang on to
And, if you had kept your word
And listened instead of just heard
Instead of just waiting for your turn to speak
Then you'd know I was weak, but you don't
No wonder reality hurts
No wonder reality hurts
I'm overthinking, everything I say and I do
Just reminds me I don't need you
'Cause there's nothing left for me to hang on to
I'm overthinking and I'm done with feeling empty
And pretending like you get me
I'm overthinking, but I think I'm through
Beating myself black and blue
Beating myself (myself black and blue)
Beating myself black and blue
(I'm beating myself black and blue)
I'm overthinking, everything I say and I do
Just reminds me I don't need you
'Cause there's nothing left for me to hang on to
I'm overthinking and I'm done with feeling empty
And pretending like you get me, I'm overthinking
If I'm through, stop beating myself black and blue
Beating myself black and blue
I'm beating myself black and blue
Beating myself black and blue
But it won't make no difference to you
I should have just filled my lungs
Breathe in, breathe out and repeat
But you know me well, or at least in as far as I can tell
You should have known better than telling me I should have
Held it together for us, when I'm barely together myself
I'm barely together myself
I'm overthinking, everything I say and I do
Just reminds me I don't need you
'Cause there's nothing left for me to hang on to
And, if you had kept your word
And listened instead of just heard
Instead of just waiting for your turn to speak
Then you'd know I was weak, but you don't
No wonder reality hurts
No wonder reality hurts
I'm overthinking, everything I say and I do
Just reminds me I don't need you
'Cause there's nothing left for me to hang on to
I'm overthinking and I'm done with feeling empty
And pretending like you get me
I'm overthinking, but I think I'm through
Beating myself black and blue
Beating myself (myself black and blue)
Beating myself black and blue
(I'm beating myself black and blue)
I'm overthinking, everything I say and I do
Just reminds me I don't need you
'Cause there's nothing left for me to hang on to
I'm overthinking and I'm done with feeling empty
And pretending like you get me, I'm overthinking
If I'm through, stop beating myself black and blue
Beating myself black and blue
I'm beating myself black and blue
Beating myself black and blue
But it won't make no difference to you
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Overthinking Lyrics as written by Collin Brittain Trenton Todd Smith Woodley
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The bands singer Trenton Woodley explains this song is about moving on from someone who wasn’t good for you.