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.
He knows all about the movements of the planets
But he don't know how to move me
He knows about the sonic spectrum damnit
But he don't know if it's groovy
He knows about
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
Kind of tall and kind of shy
He's always asking me why
He's always got his head in a book
He doesn't care how I look
He cares about
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
He's the kind of guy
who knows just what he knows
He's the kind of guy
who oh-oh-oo-oh-oh-oh
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
But he don't know how to move me
He knows about the sonic spectrum damnit
But he don't know if it's groovy
He knows about
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
Kind of tall and kind of shy
He's always asking me why
He's always got his head in a book
He doesn't care how I look
He cares about
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
He's the kind of guy
who knows just what he knows
He's the kind of guy
who oh-oh-oo-oh-oh-oh
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
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i love this song :D
me too, johnny, me too
My interpretation:
They're singing about a guy that's after them but they don't think that they would be a good match. They use a clever play on words, letters, er numbers as they say XTC which is a nickname for ecstacy so what they're saying is that he's studious and knows all about his literature (ABC) and math (123) but not about how to have a good time (XTC/drugs). Not that I'm promoting drugs, lol!! Then again I'm not sure whether they're thinking he might be a good influence on them..? Basically, I think they are pondering over the guy in the song.
X-T-C is a band, its not talking about drugs
No, no, no, you've got it all wrong! It's not about drugs or the band. It's basically just about a girl who knows a guy who knows everything but he doesn't know how to please her! When they say he doesn't know about X-T-C, he's saying that he doesn't know how to make her happy, give her ecstacy, you know? It's simple pimple.
"He knows about the sonic spectrum, dammit!" Best line ever.
Actually, I think the infatuation is from (one of) them toward the guy. Hence the line, "He doesn't care how I look." Plus mentioning how he's kind of tall and kind of shy. Sort of the "I think he's soooo cute, but he doesn't notice me, even in my awesome polka dot dress."
It's the girl trying to get his attention away from the books and onto her, which would send her into a fit of (non-drug related) ecstasy
i think it's just about a guy and a girl in a relationship and the guy is super nerdy and doesn't know much about relationships and fun. that's how i see it.
wait. it's a girl's infatuation, no relationship b/c she says "ain't in any of his categories" which means he doesn't really study her.
Yeah, I agree with Bobby Rifle. It's this girl who's really into a guy, but he's a smarty-pants bookworm type, so he never really notices her because "she ain't in any of his categories."