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.
For me and my true-love will never walk again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond.
Moira anderson, eat your heart out!
You-ou--
You'll take the high road an' I'll take the low road, an' I'll be in scotland before you
For me and my true-love we'll never walk again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
You'll take the acid an' I'll take the dope, an' I'll be stoned before you
For me an' my true-love, the drink waters' well on the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm
An' row an' row all for mhairi's wedding
Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm an' row an' row all for mhairi's wedding
I said you, you, you, you'll take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the lead guitar, from yorkshire mr. stephen rothery!
I said you, you, you, you take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the bass guitar, the backing vocal, from aylesbury mr. peter trawavas!
I said you, you, you, you take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the keyboards, from dublin mr. mark kelly!
I said you, you--, you'll take the high road
I said I'll, I'll--, I'll take the low road
On drums, per-cus-si-on, mr. michael "e.t." pointer!
And a very big round of applause, for yourself, one audience tonight
It takes two!
On vocals, and percussion fish! ...
A dream fulfilled!
Sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret
I said you take the high road
An' I'll take the low road
An' I'll be in scotland before you
For me and my true-love we'll never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
Sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret
The balcony: sweet ma- ma- ma- ma margaret
Say yer scottish: sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret
I said you'll take the high road
An' I'll take the low road
An' I'll be in scotland before you
For me and my true-love we'll never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie, bonnie, bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond!
Banks of loch lomond!
Sweet margaret
Sweet margaret
Sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret!
Thank you edinburgh, good night, we shall de-fi-night-ly return
Moira anderson, eat your heart out!
You-ou--
You'll take the high road an' I'll take the low road, an' I'll be in scotland before you
For me and my true-love we'll never walk again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
You'll take the acid an' I'll take the dope, an' I'll be stoned before you
For me an' my true-love, the drink waters' well on the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm
An' row an' row all for mhairi's wedding
Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm an' row an' row all for mhairi's wedding
I said you, you, you, you'll take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the lead guitar, from yorkshire mr. stephen rothery!
I said you, you, you, you take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the bass guitar, the backing vocal, from aylesbury mr. peter trawavas!
I said you, you, you, you take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the keyboards, from dublin mr. mark kelly!
I said you, you--, you'll take the high road
I said I'll, I'll--, I'll take the low road
On drums, per-cus-si-on, mr. michael "e.t." pointer!
And a very big round of applause, for yourself, one audience tonight
It takes two!
On vocals, and percussion fish! ...
A dream fulfilled!
Sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret
I said you take the high road
An' I'll take the low road
An' I'll be in scotland before you
For me and my true-love we'll never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
Sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret
The balcony: sweet ma- ma- ma- ma margaret
Say yer scottish: sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret
I said you'll take the high road
An' I'll take the low road
An' I'll be in scotland before you
For me and my true-love we'll never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie, bonnie, bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond!
Banks of loch lomond!
Sweet margaret
Sweet margaret
Sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret!
Thank you edinburgh, good night, we shall de-fi-night-ly return
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Margaret [Live] Lyrics as written by Mark Kelly Derek William Dick
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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