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.
One, Two, Three, Four
Life is turned down upside down
But then maybe
It's just been put back the right way round
All your dreams realized
There's a fire in your eyes
And despite of its size
You soon realize that it's alright
Tonight, feels right
Now there's a cross
That nobody should really have to bear
But then maybe
That's just when life's treating you fair
There are lessons you learn
When you've waited your turn
And things didn't turn out
Quite the way that you dreamt about
But it still feels right
Tonight, feels right
But it still feels right
Life is turned down upside down
But then maybe
It's just been put back the right way round
All your dreams realized
There's a fire in your eyes
And despite of its size
You soon realize that it's alright
Tonight, feels right
Now there's a cross
That nobody should really have to bear
But then maybe
That's just when life's treating you fair
There are lessons you learn
When you've waited your turn
And things didn't turn out
Quite the way that you dreamt about
But it still feels right
Tonight, feels right
But it still feels right
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
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.
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Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Silent Planet
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Beautiful lyrics about things not turning out the way you planned but those things end up being okay. I love this song.
this song is about when bruce springsteen dedicated the song thunder road to bdb son oscar bruce at a concert. BDB is a huge springsteen fan.