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.
[Intro:]
Yo, we in a fight for our lives
we in a fight for our lives
and the trick thing about it
i don’t know if we can win
and what’s sad? i don’t thing we WANNA win
[Verse 1:]
can you help me? a nigga need a job
i’m desperate, for some corn on the cob
i’m helpless, will i have to steal and rob?
no black? dinner so i got to ask bob
bob got a job but it’s done by a robot
no lunch breaks so it could do a whole lot
more than a human being and it’s European,
ran by a Korean, American,
so there I am, surrounded by aluminum
there’s no way you can run,
there’s no way you can be,
it’s just and me, versus modern day machinery
[Chorus x2:]
it’s man vs machine baby
my head’s in the guillotine baby
it might take it off clean baby
automated dreams it was man vs machine baby
[Verse 2:]
I’m a fly caught in the web
a fish stuck in the internet
don’t they know i’m a deathly catch?
eat this meat, every bite so full of stress
so what can I say to you?
i’m highly relatable and biodegradable
i thought we was unfadeable
slaves to machinery, is that the way to go?
i don’t need you to fuck 24/7
i guess that computer love
i don’t need you to love
human contact ain’t what it used to was
[Chorus x2:]
it’s man vs machine baby
my head’s in the guillotine baby
it might take it off clean baby
automated dreams it was man vs machine baby
[Outro x2:]
the whole world is automated
it need to be investigated
when people are eliminated
what we supposed to do when its time to feed all the babies?
Yo, we in a fight for our lives
we in a fight for our lives
and the trick thing about it
i don’t know if we can win
and what’s sad? i don’t thing we WANNA win
[Verse 1:]
can you help me? a nigga need a job
i’m desperate, for some corn on the cob
i’m helpless, will i have to steal and rob?
no black? dinner so i got to ask bob
bob got a job but it’s done by a robot
no lunch breaks so it could do a whole lot
more than a human being and it’s European,
ran by a Korean, American,
so there I am, surrounded by aluminum
there’s no way you can run,
there’s no way you can be,
it’s just and me, versus modern day machinery
[Chorus x2:]
it’s man vs machine baby
my head’s in the guillotine baby
it might take it off clean baby
automated dreams it was man vs machine baby
[Verse 2:]
I’m a fly caught in the web
a fish stuck in the internet
don’t they know i’m a deathly catch?
eat this meat, every bite so full of stress
so what can I say to you?
i’m highly relatable and biodegradable
i thought we was unfadeable
slaves to machinery, is that the way to go?
i don’t need you to fuck 24/7
i guess that computer love
i don’t need you to love
human contact ain’t what it used to was
[Chorus x2:]
it’s man vs machine baby
my head’s in the guillotine baby
it might take it off clean baby
automated dreams it was man vs machine baby
[Outro x2:]
the whole world is automated
it need to be investigated
when people are eliminated
what we supposed to do when its time to feed all the babies?
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Corpse I Fell In Love With
Gadjits, The
Gadjits, The
He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.