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.
Winding your way down on Baker Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Another crazy day, you drink the night away
And forget about everything
This city's dance makes you feel so cold
It's got so many people, but it's got no soul
And it's taken you so long to find out you were wrong
When you thought it had everything
You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're trying, you're trying now
Another year and then you'll be happy
Just one more year and then you'll be happy
But you're crying, you're crying now
Way down the street there's a light in his place
Opens the door, he's got that look on his face
And he asks where you've been
You tell him who you've seen
And you talk about everything
He's got this dream about buying some land
He's gonna give up the crack and the one night stands
And then he'll settle down in this quiet little town
And forget about everything
But you know he'll always keep moving
You know he's never gonna stop moving
Cause he's rolling, he's a rolling stone
When you wake up, it's a new morning
The sun is shining, it's a new morning
But you're going, you're going home
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Another crazy day, you drink the night away
And forget about everything
This city's dance makes you feel so cold
It's got so many people, but it's got no soul
And it's taken you so long to find out you were wrong
When you thought it had everything
You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're trying, you're trying now
Another year and then you'll be happy
Just one more year and then you'll be happy
But you're crying, you're crying now
Way down the street there's a light in his place
Opens the door, he's got that look on his face
And he asks where you've been
You tell him who you've seen
And you talk about everything
He's got this dream about buying some land
He's gonna give up the crack and the one night stands
And then he'll settle down in this quiet little town
And forget about everything
But you know he'll always keep moving
You know he's never gonna stop moving
Cause he's rolling, he's a rolling stone
When you wake up, it's a new morning
The sun is shining, it's a new morning
But you're going, you're going home
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its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
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Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
I am in love w/this song it is so amazing and the riff lifts me up into a sense that is unexplicable
A great cover!
I liked this song my dad used to play the original and I used to think it was decent but I love the Foo's and when I found this version it blew me away class song!
Just an amazing cover. The original is awesome too. The guitar is orgasmic!
possibly the best cover ever done, its done perfectly by grohl and co. it is a great old song and the revamped way the foo's play it makes it sound just awesome.
one of the best covers (nothing beats all along the watch tower by hendrix) to bad they didn't get someone to play sax, would have been nice to hear grohl play sax, just for kicks
I probably only like this better than the original because I wasn't around when it was released, so I wasn't used to Gerry Rafferty's original. Great song
Great cover , good gerry rafferty song too :P
i couldn't imagine anyone doing a better cover of this song. The guitar is positively refeshing and Dave's vocals give a smooth sound. just excellent.
this song was made to be covered by the foos. The guitar intro is such an awesome way of updating the old version. amazing!