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.
My love is cruel as the night
She steals the sun, and shuts out the light
All of my colors turn to blue
Win or lose
Slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
Scarlet eyes and a see-through heart
I saw it comin' right from the start
She picked me up, but had me down on my knees
Just a' beggin' her please
Take me slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
And I don't know why a man
Search for himself in his woman's eyes
No, I don't know why a man
Sees the truth but needs the lies
My love is restless as the wind
She moves like a shadow across my skin
She left with my conscience, and I don't want it back
It just gets in the way
Wanna go slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
Slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
Slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
She steals the sun, and shuts out the light
All of my colors turn to blue
Win or lose
Slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
Scarlet eyes and a see-through heart
I saw it comin' right from the start
She picked me up, but had me down on my knees
Just a' beggin' her please
Take me slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
And I don't know why a man
Search for himself in his woman's eyes
No, I don't know why a man
Sees the truth but needs the lies
My love is restless as the wind
She moves like a shadow across my skin
She left with my conscience, and I don't want it back
It just gets in the way
Wanna go slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
Slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
Slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow
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Nice to be the first one to comment on this one! I really like this song, though I prefer the version with Willie Nelson on lead vocals. It just sounds better with his voice. I think it's a really romantic song and I would like to actually dance on it one day...
For the meanings I find it a bit similar to a few other songs. Again it's about a man who's been thrown around by a woman whom he's totally in love with. And he lets her, because he loves her so much.
The three of them also lent vocals to a track called, "Give Me Back My Job." That song appears on Go Cat Go! the Carl Perkins tribute album.
U2's version of the song appears as a B-Side on the single "Stay Faraway So Close" which was released in 1993.
Willie's version appeared as a B-Side in 1996 to the song, "If God Will Send His Angels."
Willie has never officially recorded and released the song.
Wow this is beautiful. Love the atmosphere it creates.