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, and three
Who says I can't get stoned
Turn off the lights and the telephone
Me in my house alone
Who says I can't get stoned
Who says I can't be free
From all of the things that I used to be
Rewrite my history
Who says I can't be free
It's been a long night in New York City
It's been a long night in Baton Rouge
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again, I don't remember you
Who says I can't get stoned
Call up a girl that I used to know
Fake love for an hour or so
Who says I can't get stoned
Who says I can't take time
Meet all the girls in the county line
Wait on fate to send a sign
Who says I can't take time
It's been a long night in New York City
It's been a long night in Austin too
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again I don't remember you
Who says I can't get stoned
Plan a trip to Japan alone
Doesn't matter if I even go
Who says I can't get stoned
It's been a long night in New York City
It's been a long time since twenty-two
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again I don't remember
Don't remember you
Who says I can't get stoned
Turn off the lights and the telephone
Me in my house alone
Who says I can't get stoned
Who says I can't be free
From all of the things that I used to be
Rewrite my history
Who says I can't be free
It's been a long night in New York City
It's been a long night in Baton Rouge
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again, I don't remember you
Who says I can't get stoned
Call up a girl that I used to know
Fake love for an hour or so
Who says I can't get stoned
Who says I can't take time
Meet all the girls in the county line
Wait on fate to send a sign
Who says I can't take time
It's been a long night in New York City
It's been a long night in Austin too
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again I don't remember you
Who says I can't get stoned
Plan a trip to Japan alone
Doesn't matter if I even go
Who says I can't get stoned
It's been a long night in New York City
It's been a long time since twenty-two
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again I don't remember
Don't remember you
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I think he is being very personal here. And who cares if he references marijuana or not... that is the whole point of the song. The line may as well been "who says I can't sing about marijuana." That being said... The song is great AND deep, but I think he looks really sad and alone in the video and I feel that in the lyrics. It's an "I don't care" song, but there is something intrinsically sad about it. :/ He is happy with himself, but that's all he has... it's both enough and nowhere near it.
I love the reference to planning a trip to Japan alone. He actually did this during the production of Battle Studies. One day he woke up and told everyone via Twitter he was going to Japan on a whim by himself. <br /> <br /> I think its all about doing what you want to do and not giving two shits what others think. He seems to always have that attitude. He says like "Oh well... I get stoned pepedosreis, I don't care what you think" in his song. :P
what do you suppose "I don't remember you looking any better, but then again I don't remember you." means?
that gives me some sort of hint that the song has a reference to a relationship John had. but maybe that's just the perspective I have.
This is kinda out of no where, but i think that lyric might be about how he's always dating someone new according to the media and he's kinda like "that's news to me" about what he hears so it's kinda like the paper or what ever gossip magazine is saying we were at the club and we were doing this and that... <br /> <br /> so the lyric to me is kinda joking, yeah that totally happened but I don't remember it.<br /> So it probably didn't happen at all...<br /> <br /> hope that helps
I think what its says is [especially in the last chorus it makes most sense] that he's talking about his past when he was younger, instead of an actual person/woman. He's saying that his reflection on his younger years seem so great, even though they went by so fast that he doesnt remember it.<br /> <br /> thats just my idea.
DISTANTELEVEN what do you suppose "I don't remember you looking any better, but then again I don't remember you." means? -<br /> <br /> Well my best friend just dated a pot smoker and well he would smoke and he would be like WOW your so beautiful then the next day he dont' remember her at all. Over and over it went like this till she finally left him.. he said i never said such things etc... so that is probably what john is saying here.. <br /> <br />
Shoot me down if i'm wrong, and i know the song isnt really straight forward and literal but he does quote,"who says i cant get stoned" and from personal experiences, remembering things tends to be hard at times after, well getting stoned. He could be gloating about the fact that he gets so many biddies as well. <br /> I know its not the most artistic way to look at it but John's writtings arnt the deepest usually.
I don't think it's particularly a "Money Maker" song. Just putting that out there (:
I think it's about reflecting and looking back and going, "From now on who cares! I'm going to do what I feel like because no one can tell me what to do" I like it.
the song is a political statement. mayer was a big ron paul supporter. he's a libertarian and is questioning why people think they have the right to tell others how to live their lives - despite whatever the consequences might be.
wow. you guys fail to see one thing. YES this song is about being free. doing the things YOU want in life. mayer said it himself.
AND. the whole "who says i cant get stoned" has another meaning. when people get stoned. theyre happy. theyre chill. its like they have no problems. soooo mayer is saying " who says i cant be happy ? " basically.
I never thought i'd make an account on here..i always looked at this site but never had the guts to share what i thought...but this song made me realize that other people's opinions shouldn't even matter...
Im a simple stoner.i dont like to think about pressing issues or things that make me sad.but being only 18 years old i am constantly pressured to get a life..get a job..go to school...but what if im not ready? I already know that i need to do all those things.and the constant flow of criticism from parents and even friends do little more but make me resent them for not being as alive as i feel?
the point is that we are our own worst enemies.we have to deal with looking ourselves in the mirror everynite,and i say that if you can do that and still smile?thats a little victory(thank you matt nathanson)i just think that we put enough pressure on ourselves already...we dont need the added pressure of people telling us(me) that i need to grow up...
"who says we can't get stoned?" even if just for a while?...well yeah that was fun...let me know if im an idiot
i like you.
I have to agree with those that believe its NOT about pot. It's kind of like in his Playboy interview, he chose the "n" word not meaning it at all, but knowing it was going to have a shock affect.
"Who says I can't get stoned" means "Why can't I live how I want?" He's referring to his freedom. He's not making fun of potheads, he's thinking about being free with his guitar, his life, his passions, his women. He clearly stating that he just "doesn't give a damn" what people think about him and his life. It doesn't matter if he sleeps with some random chick from his past. Who's going to say anything to him?
The song's actually pretty deep. My first impression was "I don't want to listen to a song about weed". But when I gave it a chance, I realized that he's aching for the day when the media gets the message and just leaves him alone. It's an exponentially beautiful, deep, and intelligent song.
it looks a lot like john has been using heroin. anyone else get that from the song?
I personally believe this song is about him and his girlfriend breaking up, and by the way he puts it, he's trying to be rebellious by going out and doing everything he always wanted to do with no repercussions. Who says he can't call up someone he used to know? Who says he can't party in New York city? He still feels a lot of sadness because when the party ends, it's still him by himself, and you can tell that by the contrast in the music video; the bright lights when he's out with friends, to the darker colors when he's alone.
For me this song is about sort of breaking free. It's about not worrying, not playing life if it's a game of chess, it's just doing. Doing whatever you want and not caring about what comes out of it.
It's interesting because, at least in my experience, it really is hard to just be. Everyday is either a conscious or unconscious analysis of what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. For me, this is just the antithesis of that in every way.