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.
Another plan
It all went down the drain
I thought I had
another chance to gain
Been far too long
I’ve had it
I’ll wade around
‘till I quit
I’ve got some room for you
but I’ll just save myself
All I can do is just sit here and whine now
at everyone living their goddamned lives
Stop standing around
You gotta check it out
Start pulling your weight
You only let me down
Won’t break any ground
You know you’re gonna go far someday
As long as you’re not you
It’s time to do it
my way
Look at me now
They’ll all pay
I’ve got no room for you
I’m out of souls to sell
All I can do is just sit here and whine now
at everyone losing their goddamned minds
Stop standing around
You gotta check it out
Start pulling your weight
You only let me down
Won’t break any ground
You know you’re gonna go far someday
As long as you’re not you
As long as you’re not you
You got some nerve
You got some nerve
to show your face around here
You got some nerve
You got some nerve
to show your face around here now
You got some nerve
got some nerve
You’re only fake
It’s not real
You got some nerve
Some fucking nerve
Stop standing around
You gotta check it out
Start pulling your weight
You only let me down
Won’t break any ground
You know you’re gonna go far someday
As long as you’re not you
Stop standing around
You gotta check it out
Start pulling your weight
You only let me down
Won’t break any ground
You know you’re gonna go far someday
As long as you’re not you
As long as you’re not you
It all went down the drain
I thought I had
another chance to gain
Been far too long
I’ve had it
I’ll wade around
‘till I quit
I’ve got some room for you
but I’ll just save myself
All I can do is just sit here and whine now
at everyone living their goddamned lives
Stop standing around
You gotta check it out
Start pulling your weight
You only let me down
Won’t break any ground
You know you’re gonna go far someday
As long as you’re not you
It’s time to do it
my way
Look at me now
They’ll all pay
I’ve got no room for you
I’m out of souls to sell
All I can do is just sit here and whine now
at everyone losing their goddamned minds
Stop standing around
You gotta check it out
Start pulling your weight
You only let me down
Won’t break any ground
You know you’re gonna go far someday
As long as you’re not you
As long as you’re not you
You got some nerve
You got some nerve
to show your face around here
You got some nerve
You got some nerve
to show your face around here now
You got some nerve
got some nerve
You’re only fake
It’s not real
You got some nerve
Some fucking nerve
Stop standing around
You gotta check it out
Start pulling your weight
You only let me down
Won’t break any ground
You know you’re gonna go far someday
As long as you’re not you
Stop standing around
You gotta check it out
Start pulling your weight
You only let me down
Won’t break any ground
You know you’re gonna go far someday
As long as you’re not you
As long as you’re not you
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
As Long As You're Not You Lyrics as written by Wolfgang Van Halen
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this is about people who think that they can just pretend to be something they're not to get somewhere in life without doing any work.