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.
Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea
I've got a message I can't read
Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea
I've got a message I can't read
Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea
I've got a message I can't read
I'm on your side
Nowhere to hide
Trapdoors that open
I spiral down
You're living in a fantasy
You're living in a fantasy
I'm lost at sea
Don't bother me
I've lost my way
I've lost my way
You're living in a fantasy
You're living in a fantasy
You're living in a fantasy
This beautiful world
Come back
Come back
Come back
Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea
I've got a message I can't read
I've got a message I can't read
Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea
I've got a message I can't read
Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea
I've got a message I can't read
I'm on your side
Nowhere to hide
Trapdoors that open
I spiral down
You're living in a fantasy
You're living in a fantasy
I'm lost at sea
Don't bother me
I've lost my way
I've lost my way
You're living in a fantasy
You're living in a fantasy
You're living in a fantasy
This beautiful world
Come back
Come back
Come back
Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea
I've got a message I can't read
Lyrics submitted by shut, edited by LundyFastnet, ParanoidDroid8, a3poify
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It's about division. The irish sea divides england and ireland. ANd then in the chorus, he says I'm on your side. Its about some duality that he is trying to break down. Maybe he doesnt think he fits in either side, maybe it is trying to be neutral all the time. It's cryptic. I guess you can only take your own meaning from it.
the conscious vs the unconscious. Perhaps the fight or flight responses we choose. <br /> <br /> "Got a message I can't read" - this might be referring to the unconscious messages we receive but often do not have to ability to express.<br /> <br /> And when he says...<br /> <br /> I'm on your side<br /> Nowhere to hide<br /> Trapdoors that open<br /> I spiral down<br /> <br /> He means that his inner part woke him up. His inner self is on his side, the trapdoors are the psychedelic experiences we often overlook daily. Once he opens that door, he spirals down it, just like a rabbit hole.<br /> <br /> Once he gets to that state of mind, he is alienated from everyone. So he says....<br /> <br /> I'm lost at sea<br /> Don't bother me<br /> I've lost my way<br /> I've lost my way<br /> <br /> As if he is trying to lie to people, telling them he "lost" his way. Except in reality he didn't. Its all a ruse to trick people that haven't woke up yet.<br /> <br /> You're living in a fantasy<br /> You're living in a fantasy<br /> You're living in a fantasy<br /> This beautiful world<br /> <br /> This implies that he is finally trying to convey his thoughts, emotions, and spiritual intuition to others. He wants them to see how beautiful the world really is. He wants to unbind them.<br /> <br /> He also starts shouting "come back!" as if maybe he is saying to the average Joe that average Joe has been lost all this time, and needs to return.<br /> <br /> Or, he could be shouting at himself, wanting himself to have restraints to reality so he doesn't get lost in fantasy land forever.
I think it's about being on the divide, not taking part of anything and watching everything pass you by from every direction (the dwindling, breezy passing guitars), not knowing what to make of what you see and the expectance of that ("another message I can't read" is pretty hopeless).
I'm sorry but some of these interpretations are so far off...
"In Limbo" means being in a state of isolation (whether mentally or physically), with no prospect of moving to a better place. It's almost as if you're looking at yourself 'through the looking glass'.
at the end he is most definitely repeating "come back"... this is like his subconscious speaking. deep down he knows he has to get out of this way of thinking, but he's so emotionally damaged..thus IN LIMBO
after I saw Inception, I thought of this song.
For anyone wondering, I have submitted a correction, as the lyrics are not
"Being the first in the Irish sea I got a message I can't read Another message I can't read"
They are actually
"Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, I've got a message I can't read."
Lundy, Fastnet, and Irish Sea are three nearby areas on the BBC's shipping forecast.
In the lower right hand corner of the UK (centre): i.imgur.com/p4XU3x9.png
You're living in a fantasy
People see what they want to see. It's a defense mechanism. Nobody can see truth while looking through the eyes of ego.
Incoprehension reigns. The secure world we build around ourselves based on denial is gradually turned upside down. We retreat further still, knowing we cannot stop the disaster as we shut out all thoughts of it.
no
It just kind of hit me today after reading the lyrics. I'm suprised no one has thought of this yet, but some of the lyrics que up some memories of watching Alice in Wonderland (though I haven't seen it in a long while).
"Trap doors that open" "I spiral down"
"I'm lost at sea Don't bother me I've lost my way I've lost my way"
"You're living in a fantasy world"
It may not be what he was thinking when he wrote it, but it seems to fit in my mind.
I agree with Anulith and LaDolceVita007
In Limbo means that all your consciousness drifts away. Also, the lyrics hints this state of mind (believing you're never going to come back) only exist in a period of time- one day you'll return after overcome a confusing experience.