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.
Be my husband man I be your wife
Be my husband man I be your wife
Be my husband man I be your wife
Loving all of you the rest of your life yeah
If you promise me you'll be my man
If you promise me you'll be my man
If you promise me you'll be my man
I will love you the best I can yeah
Stick the promise man you made me
Stick the promise man that you made me
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Stick the promise man you made me
That you stay away from rosalie yeah
Oh Daddy love me good
Oh Daddy now love me good
Oh Daddy love me good
Oh Daddy now love me good
If you want me to cook and sew
If you want me to cook and sew
If you want me to cook and sew yeah
Outside of you there is no place to go
Please don't treat me so doggone mean
Please don't treat me so doggone mean
Please don't treat me so now doggone mean yeah
You're the meanest man I ever see
Oh Daddy now love me good
Oh Daddy love me good yeah
Oh Daddy love me good yeah
Oh Daddy now love me good
Be my husband man I be your wife
Be my husband man I be your wife
Loving all of you the rest of your life yeah
If you promise me you'll be my man
If you promise me you'll be my man
If you promise me you'll be my man
I will love you the best I can yeah
Stick the promise man you made me
Stick the promise man that you made me
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Stick the promise man you made me
That you stay away from rosalie yeah
Oh Daddy love me good
Oh Daddy now love me good
Oh Daddy love me good
Oh Daddy now love me good
If you want me to cook and sew
If you want me to cook and sew
If you want me to cook and sew yeah
Outside of you there is no place to go
Please don't treat me so doggone mean
Please don't treat me so doggone mean
Please don't treat me so now doggone mean yeah
You're the meanest man I ever see
Oh Daddy now love me good
Oh Daddy love me good yeah
Oh Daddy love me good yeah
Oh Daddy now love me good
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I believe the couple is already married (especially due to the timing of this song...back when few people lived together outside of marriage), but she wishes for him to act like her husband. She finds him mean. She's willing to cook and sew and be the wife that he wants, but she needs him to "act" like her husband...loving; kind; loyal; giving, etc. He is called "daddy' either because he's older (which was the case in many relationships of that time) or because he's the one more financially responsible for the family unit. Also, back then the man usually ruled the roost, which was acceptable providing he treated his woman well.
I love her and this song, but the thought of marriage is rather disturbing!