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.
Happy talk
keep talkin' happy talk
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You gotta have a dream
if you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about a moon floatin' in the sky
Lookin' like a lily on a lake;
Talk about a bird learnin' how to fly
Makin' all the music he can make.
Happy talk
keep talkin' happy talk
. . .
Let's talk about a star lookin' like a toy
Peekin' through the branches of a tree;
Talk about a girl
talk about a boy
Countin' all the ripples on the sea.
Happy talk
keep talkin' happy talk
. . .
Talk about a boy sayin' to the girl:
Golly, Baby ! I'm a lucky cuss !
Talk about a girl sayin' to the boy:
'You and me are lucky to be us !"
Happy talk
keep talkin' happy talk
. . .
If you don't talk happy and you never have a dream
Then you'll never have a dream come true !
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
This song always brightens my day...