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 told you why I changed my mind
I got bored by playing with time
I know you thought you had me nailed
But I've freed my head from your garden rails
Now it's a legal matter, baby
You got me on the run
It's a legal matter, baby
A legal matter from now on
My mind's lost in a household fog
Wedding gowns and catalogs
Kitchen furnishings and houses
Maternity clothes and baby's trousers
It's a legal matter, baby
Marryin's no fun
It's a legal matter, baby
A legal matter from now on
I told you why I changed my mind
I got bored by playing with time
I know you thought you had me nailed
Well, I've freed my head from your garden rails
Now it's a legal matter, baby
You got me on the run
It's a legal matter, baby
A legal matter from now on
You ain't the first and you ain't the last
I gain and lose my women fast
I never want to make them cry
I just get bored, don't ask me why
Just wanna keep doing all the dirty little things I do
And not work all day in an office just to bring my money back to you
Sorry, baby
I got bored by playing with time
I know you thought you had me nailed
But I've freed my head from your garden rails
Now it's a legal matter, baby
You got me on the run
It's a legal matter, baby
A legal matter from now on
My mind's lost in a household fog
Wedding gowns and catalogs
Kitchen furnishings and houses
Maternity clothes and baby's trousers
It's a legal matter, baby
Marryin's no fun
It's a legal matter, baby
A legal matter from now on
I told you why I changed my mind
I got bored by playing with time
I know you thought you had me nailed
Well, I've freed my head from your garden rails
Now it's a legal matter, baby
You got me on the run
It's a legal matter, baby
A legal matter from now on
You ain't the first and you ain't the last
I gain and lose my women fast
I never want to make them cry
I just get bored, don't ask me why
Just wanna keep doing all the dirty little things I do
And not work all day in an office just to bring my money back to you
Sorry, baby
Lyrics submitted by Chris_Gough
A Legal Matter Lyrics as written by Peter Townshend
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Abkco Music Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Obviously about a girl falling in love with a guy who doesn't commit, who "gets bored" and "gains and loses his women fast".
catchy song
I think that every guy goes through a point in his life where its a catch 22 with girls. If you have a GF you dont want one, If you dont have one, you want one. This is about a guy who has one and doesnt want her anymore... cold?...maybe. But a lot of girls are the same
As a side note, it's worth pointing out that Townshend who wrote this was married and faithful to his wife all through The Who's craziest and busiest years. Which sounds incredible.
This song's title is also an inside joke, as the Who were engaged in legal struggles with producer Shel Talmy, who held the rights to recordings the band's new label wanted to release.
It's about a pig of s man who won't commit to his unhappy partner
It's about a pig of a man who won't commit to his unhappy partner
Wait.. He is the pig for not committing to a partner who is unhappy? Because that sounds pretty smart to me. It's naive to believe that by further commiting to someone (getting married, having kids, etc.) will automatically solve an unhappy relationship and make everything better.<br /> <br /> Somehow, I'm guessing the OP here was projecting feelings about a certain pig in her (or his.. no judgements here!) life. :)
@ emeraldfox. The partner is unhappy because the man in the song is not committing to her.
The song is about divorce and Roger Daltry was going thru a divorce at the time. Only song on my generation that Townsend sang lead. Cool because he played three different guitars on the song. One of my favorite WHO songs
@LILJED It is NOT about divorce. That is a common misconception. The song is NOT about DIVORCE. It is about COMMITMENT PHOBIA or COMMITMENT RESISTANCE. The lady is having all these fantasies of a permanent partnership with this fellow who cannot or will not have a woman in his life as anything but occasional company