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.
It was our first week
At Myrtle Beach
Where it all began
It was 102 degrees
Nothin' to do
Man it was hot
So we jumped in
We were summertime sippin', sippin'
Sweet tea kissin' off of your lips
T-shirt drippin', drippin' wet
How could I forget?
Watchin' that blonde hair swing
To every song I'd sing
You were California beautiful
I was playin' everything but cool
I can still hear that sound
Of every wave crashin' down
Like the tears we cried
That day we had to leave
It was everything we wanted it to be
The summer of
19 you and me
We had our first dance in the sand
It was one hell of a souvenir
Tangled up, so in love
So, let's just stay right here
'Til the sun starts creepin', creepin' up
Right then I knew
Just what you were thinkin', thinkin' of
When I looked at you
Watchin' that blonde hair swing
To every song I'd sing
You were California beautiful
I was playin' everything but cool
I can still hear that sound
Of every wave crashin' down
Like the tears we cried
That day we had to leave
It was everything we wanted it to be
The summer of
19 you and me
You and me
Watchin' that blonde hair swing
To every song I'd sing
You were California beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
Watchin' that blonde hair swing
To every song I'd sing
You were California beautiful
I was playin' everything but cool
I can still hear that sound
Of every wave crashin' down
Like the tears we cried
That day we had to leave
It was everything we wanted it to be
The summer of
19 you and me
First week in Myrtle Beach where it all began
At Myrtle Beach
Where it all began
It was 102 degrees
Nothin' to do
Man it was hot
So we jumped in
We were summertime sippin', sippin'
Sweet tea kissin' off of your lips
T-shirt drippin', drippin' wet
How could I forget?
Watchin' that blonde hair swing
To every song I'd sing
You were California beautiful
I was playin' everything but cool
I can still hear that sound
Of every wave crashin' down
Like the tears we cried
That day we had to leave
It was everything we wanted it to be
The summer of
19 you and me
We had our first dance in the sand
It was one hell of a souvenir
Tangled up, so in love
So, let's just stay right here
'Til the sun starts creepin', creepin' up
Right then I knew
Just what you were thinkin', thinkin' of
When I looked at you
Watchin' that blonde hair swing
To every song I'd sing
You were California beautiful
I was playin' everything but cool
I can still hear that sound
Of every wave crashin' down
Like the tears we cried
That day we had to leave
It was everything we wanted it to be
The summer of
19 you and me
You and me
Watchin' that blonde hair swing
To every song I'd sing
You were California beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
Watchin' that blonde hair swing
To every song I'd sing
You were California beautiful
I was playin' everything but cool
I can still hear that sound
Of every wave crashin' down
Like the tears we cried
That day we had to leave
It was everything we wanted it to be
The summer of
19 you and me
First week in Myrtle Beach where it all began
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
I think it's a reflection song. The singer is thinking back to when he met his now wife and how amazing it was. The line "It was our first week at Myrtle Beach where it all began" is him thinking back to where it happened, and the rest of the song deals with the little things that made them fall in love. I think it's possible they only saw each other each summer at first, especially since the phrases "where it began" and "the day we had to leave" are used, but eventually they realize what they have is real so they found a way to be together.
I don't think the 19 in the song reflects, but is actually a bit of word play. It was the summer of them hence the line "It was everything we wanted it to be/The summer of 19 you and me."
I don't like this song. Why does every new singer still think they have to sound like John Mayer to be listened to. I could whisper rhymes into a microphone too.....
Anyway to be more specific, the first line of this song raises all kinds of questions. First, it was your first week of what? dating? marriage? The first week you knew each other? if it was a summer fling, the term 'first week' would imply that there was a second week. So that would be odd unless Dan and Shay are vacationing like Europeans and taking a few months off. Seriously, what 19 year old can afford to hang out on a beach for a week (or more as, again, the song implies) unless its spring break or something? Maybe they're from Myrtle Beach, but they why would it be necessary to mention it in the song? Also, the line 'Like the tears we cried that day we had to leave' would imply they are NOT from there. Why did they both have to leave at the same time? Did they go on vacation together? If so, again, they said it was their first week. maybe a honeymoon? But if that were the case, its odd that the words 'honeymoon' 'wife' 'marriage' 'marry' 'wedding' etc are no where to be found.
This song is too simplistic. The writer(s) just made simple rhymes that kind of make sense..... unless you actually LISTEN to them, then the whole thing falls apart. Every time I hear it I'm completely baffled
if you actually read the first and second line together instead of reading it as two sentences you would see that its was their first week at myrtle beach. And a lot of people just go to the beach as a vacation..... plus you dont have to be froma specific place to meet someone......