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.
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out, oy
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out
But someone will 'ave to pay
For the innocent blood
That they shed every day
Oh, children, mark my word
It's what the bible say, yeah, yeah
Oh, we no know how we and dem a-go work this out
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out
But in the beginning jah created everythin' (ooh)
Givin' man dominion over all things
But now it's too late
You see, men has lost their faith (ooh), hey-ey-hey
Eating up all the flesh from off the earth, eh
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (we no know)
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (no, we don't know)
Dub-da-dub-da-dub
Dub-a-dippidi-doop-de-doo
Nim-a-nummany num-na-noo
Num-a-nummana-num-da-nay
Dippy-dippy-dippy, dip-de-dub-de-day
Dip-a-dubbada-dub-da-day
But I say, we no know how we and dem a-go work this out
Them a flesh and bone
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out
But we now have no friends
In-a high society, yeah
We no have no friends
Oh, mark my identity
We no have no friends, oh-oh, yeah
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (no, we no know)
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (we no know)
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out (no, we don't know)
(We no know how we and dem a-go work this out) rasta
(We no know how we and dem a-go work this out) ilyabom
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out
But someone will 'ave to pay
For the innocent blood
That they shed every day
Oh, children, mark my word
It's what the bible say, yeah, yeah
Oh, we no know how we and dem a-go work this out
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out
But in the beginning jah created everythin' (ooh)
Givin' man dominion over all things
But now it's too late
You see, men has lost their faith (ooh), hey-ey-hey
Eating up all the flesh from off the earth, eh
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (we no know)
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (no, we don't know)
Dub-da-dub-da-dub
Dub-a-dippidi-doop-de-doo
Nim-a-nummany num-na-noo
Num-a-nummana-num-da-nay
Dippy-dippy-dippy, dip-de-dub-de-day
Dip-a-dubbada-dub-da-day
But I say, we no know how we and dem a-go work this out
Them a flesh and bone
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out
But we now have no friends
In-a high society, yeah
We no have no friends
Oh, mark my identity
We no have no friends, oh-oh, yeah
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (no, we no know)
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (we no know)
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out (no, we don't know)
(We no know how we and dem a-go work this out) rasta
(We no know how we and dem a-go work this out) ilyabom
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key words in this song is WE and Dem.. someone will have to pay for the innocent blood THEY shed everyday... hmm let me see is it WE or is it DEM that will have to pay?
musically its a great song. sads sounding chorus then sounds like theres some reassurance in the verses then back to the we and them dunno how to work it out repeated fade out.. kinda depressing cos it doesnt come back to the reassurance. hmm dont mean to sound all serious but its great. the 2 following songs on the album ressure this one. work and zion train :)