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.
This is fun
Ladies and gentlemen let's put our hands together for the astonishing
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 8th wonder of the world
The flow of the century, always timeless Hov!
(That's a hustle!)
Thank you for comin' out tonight
You coulda been anywhere in the world, but you're here with us
We appreciate that
Uh, H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Fo' shizzle my nizzle used to dribble down in VA
Was hurtin 'em in the home of the Terrapins, got it dirt cheap for them
Plus if they was short with cheese I would work with them
Brought in weed, got rid of that dirt for them
Wasn't born hustlers, I was birthin 'em
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Fo' sheezy my neezy keep my arms so freezy
Can't leave rap alone, the game needs me
Haters want me clapped and chromed, it ain't easy
Cops wanna knock me, D.A. wanna box me in
But somehow, I beat them charges like Rocky
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, he who does not feel me
Is not real to me, therefore he doesn't exist
So poof, vamoose, son of a bitch!
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Fo' shizzle my nizzle used to dribble down in VA
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem get'cha damn hands up
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty y'all got to feel me
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Check it out, yo
(It starts with one)
One thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind I designed this rhyme
To explain in due time (All I know)
Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away and (It's so unreal)
I didn't look out below
I watch the time go right out the window
Trying to hold on, and didn't even know
I wasted it all just to (Watch you go)
I kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when I tried, so
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
LP, Jay-Z, help me up
Oh they havin good old time out there
It starts with
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
LP, Jay-Z, help me up
Oh they havin good old time out there
It starts with
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
LP, Jay-Z, help me up
Ye-Ye-Yes!
The ladies and gentleman
It starts with
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Ladies and gentlemen let's put our hands together for the astonishing
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 8th wonder of the world
The flow of the century, always timeless Hov!
(That's a hustle!)
Thank you for comin' out tonight
You coulda been anywhere in the world, but you're here with us
We appreciate that
Uh, H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Fo' shizzle my nizzle used to dribble down in VA
Was hurtin 'em in the home of the Terrapins, got it dirt cheap for them
Plus if they was short with cheese I would work with them
Brought in weed, got rid of that dirt for them
Wasn't born hustlers, I was birthin 'em
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Fo' sheezy my neezy keep my arms so freezy
Can't leave rap alone, the game needs me
Haters want me clapped and chromed, it ain't easy
Cops wanna knock me, D.A. wanna box me in
But somehow, I beat them charges like Rocky
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, he who does not feel me
Is not real to me, therefore he doesn't exist
So poof, vamoose, son of a bitch!
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Fo' shizzle my nizzle used to dribble down in VA
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem get'cha damn hands up
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty y'all got to feel me
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Check it out, yo
(It starts with one)
One thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind I designed this rhyme
To explain in due time (All I know)
Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away and (It's so unreal)
I didn't look out below
I watch the time go right out the window
Trying to hold on, and didn't even know
I wasted it all just to (Watch you go)
I kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when I tried, so
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
LP, Jay-Z, help me up
Oh they havin good old time out there
It starts with
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
LP, Jay-Z, help me up
Oh they havin good old time out there
It starts with
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
LP, Jay-Z, help me up
Ye-Ye-Yes!
The ladies and gentleman
It starts with
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
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