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.
Snow is falling all around
Seven o'clock and the roads are blocked
So I walk downtown
There's no-one around
I walk in a bar and immediately
I sense danger
You look at me girl, as if I was some kind of a
A total stranger
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
The streets are dark, and there's no
One about
I wander home and all the
The lights are out, I keep wondering
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
Where did you get that blank
Expression on your face?
Where did you get that blank
Expression on your face?
Where did you get that blank
Expression on your face...
Seven o'clock and the roads are blocked
So I walk downtown
There's no-one around
I walk in a bar and immediately
I sense danger
You look at me girl, as if I was some kind of a
A total stranger
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
The streets are dark, and there's no
One about
I wander home and all the
The lights are out, I keep wondering
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
(Where) where did you get that blank (blank)
Expression on your face?
Where did you get that blank
Expression on your face?
Where did you get that blank
Expression on your face?
Where did you get that blank
Expression on your face...
Lyrics submitted by BeautifulDisaster
Blank Expression Lyrics as written by John Bradbury Jerry Dammers
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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my absolute favorite specials song. its most likely (probably definitely) just me but this song is kind of like a "fuck you" to someone. kind of saying they are boring and lifeless/ it only makes sense in my head. i guess there is no point in explaining.
Listen to the entire album and a small number of tracks aside, I've always felt a theme or story in it. Despite songs like 'Too Much, Too Young' being classic ska and reggae recreations, I see much of the album recounting a bitter love affair with a woman that wasn't really all that. We've all had one at some time or another!
It's echoed in this track, Little Bitch, Stupid Marriage, Too Much, Too Young, Nite Club ("all the girls are slags and the beer tastes just like piss" seems an overview of 'that' type of woman and the places they go), You're Wondering Now and Dawning of a New Era. You could even argue that most of the other tracks are relevant to many stereotypical males of the time if you really wanted to make a story of it.
I just don't see where 'Do the Dog' fits in. Or maybe I do!
no comments? Anyway, I have the Specials live cd, and that was the first time i heard this song and i LOVE IT!!!! It sounds so awesome live, I wanna hear the album version
one comment!!! thats shocking. Great song though. n e ideas on meaning?
Alright so this is obviously about someone he knows, and their blank expression pissed him off. maybe she gives it all the time, [that would annoy me too]. she's a sinacle, lifeless person. I think due to his tone it sounds like he's telling this girl the story of how he got there, it was difficult and she didn't even care. Maybe she looks at him like she doesn't know him so he leaves, puzzled.
i think it was jerry dammers deep down having a dig at terry hall....there`s an underlying meaning there lol......think i read it in horance panters book lol!!!!!!
this kind of reminds me of James Joyce's "Araby"
Great one-drop drums - love the reggae rim-shots and skanking guitars together with the winter imagery as the guy walks into the bar. What a classic song.
How does he get that singular rim-shot sound?
How I love this album. Ever seen them live on YouTube (or if you were lucky enough to see them onstage during the 70's -80's?
They look like they are having serious fun.
I was sad to hear about the passing of John Bradbury 3 days after Christmas. His drumming skanked in a serious manner.
I honored him with a few blog posts:
connecthook.wordpress.com/2016/01/08/too-much-too-young/
connecthook.wordpress.com/2016/01/09/stupid-marriage/
connecthook.wordpress.com/2016/01/10/specials-skank-it-up-with-dead-girl/
I'm perturbed by the scattered comments. To me the meaning is obvious. He had a one night stand with this woman. She is not into him so she is ghosting him basically. He was hoping she would embrace the fleeting relationship and was pissed of when she did not. She may have even been date raped by the protagonist