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 was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?
Two lovers entwined pass me by
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
In my life
Oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?
What she asked of me at the end of the day
Caligula would have blushed
"Oh, you've been in the house too long" she said
And I naturally fled
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now
"Oh, you've been in the house too long" she said
And I naturally fled
In my life
Oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?
But heaven knows I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?
Two lovers entwined pass me by
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
In my life
Oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?
What she asked of me at the end of the day
Caligula would have blushed
"Oh, you've been in the house too long" she said
And I naturally fled
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now
"Oh, you've been in the house too long" she said
And I naturally fled
In my life
Oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?
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!
Sometimes we cannot reckon a song's meaning. When all of a sudden we go through a situation and we listen to a certain song we can understand it perfectly. We drink and get happy for a moment, when the effect of alcohol is over, the "happiness" goes away. So we start analysing our life to check what's wrong, in his case he thought he needed a job when he got it he realized it was not what he needed. It just made him more miserable. He just reaches the answer when he sees the "lovers passing him by". As he tries to get rid of his misery he gives his time to people who don't care and will NEVER care about him. He does it aiming to find someone who cares.
Caligula is an emperor who killed his own men, practiced incest with his sisters and threw unnecessary parties. Show how Morrissey knows his history. Great line!
This song rocks. It resonates with me for two reasons: One, yeah, it's catchy and Morrissey's voice, singing slightly behind the beat, complements the band's playing to perfecton. Two: despite the catchiness of the song, the lyrics themselves are very dark, bluesy, and common to our fickle condition.
The song is almost schizophrenic in its nature: it sounds happy, yet the mood which the singer finds himself in is one of bitter agony. A bittersweet note indeed. What's great is that this is a song which one can listen to regardless of one's condition: happy or sad. What more can one ask for?
the songs wrote about the people in Morrissey's life, he didnt like, but had to spend time with, his work colleagues and bosses etc... he says so in this interview about 8.25 youtube.com/watch
What a great song. Somehow I always wind up listening to this song when I get some crappy job and then it hit's me, why am I giving my time to these automotons who don't care a whit about me? Kick them in the eye I will!
I love this song, recently a I fell into a depression and this was the only song I could hear for a week. I don't know if it helped or it made me feel more depressed but It always makes me think about my life.
Although my familiy doesn't like most of the music I listen to, this one struck a chord with all of them. Makes my dad laugh until he falls out of his chair.
This song's title is a pun on the Sandie Shaw song from the late 60's entitled "Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now".
Whenever I start to slip into a depression this song resonates through my mind. I've never heard anyone more accurately describe how it feels to be down or depressed. Or just thinking about all the things that you are unhappy with in your life. I listen to this a lot when I'm sad, and it doesn't make me cry, but it definitely regenerates the mood. Not sure if its a good or bad thing but regardless I love this song whether I'm happy or sad. When I'm happy this song makes me reflect on the times I was down, but not necessarily in a bad way. This song truly sounds how emotions feel.
Haha, this song makes me want to get up and do a dance. The eye line is priceless!