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.
Well I've tried to live like the way that you wanted me to
Never needed the proof, just followed the rules
I pick up all the pieces and I move my feet as fast as I can
I'm always falling behind, just float in the lines
You want more and ambition's taken its toll on you
Well hey your confidence is fading with your youth
And you say that dreamers always get what they desire
Well I've found, the more I want the less I've got
Is this the life you've been waiting for?
Or are you hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more?
You're coughing blood again
I know 'cause I clean up the mess every now and then
Fold the line along the seam
Force a smile and never say what you mean
In the promised land in someone else's dream
If you want more and you'll get there
Throw a quarter in the well
It's okay, you're fine, ambition's not a crime
And you say that dreamers always get what they desire
Well I've found, that the more I want the less I've got
Is this the life you've been waiting for
Or are you hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more?
Well ask yourself
Is this the life you've been waiting for, well ask yourself
Is this the life you've been waiting for, well ask yourself
Is this the life you've been waiting for,
You hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more
Well ask yourself
Is this the life you've been waiting for,
You hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more
Well ask yourself
Never needed the proof, just followed the rules
I pick up all the pieces and I move my feet as fast as I can
I'm always falling behind, just float in the lines
You want more and ambition's taken its toll on you
Well hey your confidence is fading with your youth
And you say that dreamers always get what they desire
Well I've found, the more I want the less I've got
Is this the life you've been waiting for?
Or are you hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more?
You're coughing blood again
I know 'cause I clean up the mess every now and then
Fold the line along the seam
Force a smile and never say what you mean
In the promised land in someone else's dream
If you want more and you'll get there
Throw a quarter in the well
It's okay, you're fine, ambition's not a crime
And you say that dreamers always get what they desire
Well I've found, that the more I want the less I've got
Is this the life you've been waiting for
Or are you hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more?
Well ask yourself
Is this the life you've been waiting for, well ask yourself
Is this the life you've been waiting for, well ask yourself
Is this the life you've been waiting for,
You hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more
Well ask yourself
Is this the life you've been waiting for,
You hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more
Well ask yourself
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by emptyhome
Ask Yourself Lyrics as written by Mark Foster Greg Kurstin
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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I love this song because it reminds me of someone in my family.
To me this song is about constantly chasing money and the next promotion or what have you. Mark is basically saying you have a choice, you can spend your life chasing paper and prestige or you can slow down and actually experience life for what it is. In my experience I would gladly make $30k/year and have free time than make $60+ a year and live for work. I especially find the line "Well I've found The more I want the less I got"
to be very true. People need to be happy with what they have but that is understandably hard in a environment where one is constantly bombarded by images of whats "in" or the latest and greatest.
It's also about being ambitious I think. Maybe at some point life hasn't happened how you wanted it to, and you have to ask yourself whether you can be at peace with that and find happiness anyway.