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.
Elvis is my daddy, Marilyn's my mother
Jesus is my bestest friend
We don't need nobody, 'cause we got each other
Or at least I pretend
We get down every Friday night
Dancin' and grindin' in the pale moonlight
Grand Ole Opry, we're feelin' alright
Mary prays the rosary for my broken mind
I said, "Don't worry 'bout it"
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric
Sing that body electric
Sing that body electric
I'm on fire
I sing that body electric
Whitman is my daddy, Monico's my mother
Diamonds are my bestest friend
Heaven is my baby, suicide's her father
Opulence is the end
We get down every Friday night
Dancin' and grindin' in the pale moonlight
Grand Ole Opry, we're feelin' alright
Mary prays the rosary for my broken mind
I said, "Don't worry 'bout it"
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric
Sing that body electric
Sing that body electric
I'm on fire
I sing that body electric
My clothes still smell like you
And all the photographs say you're still young
I pretend I'm not hurt
And go about the world like I'm havin' fun
We get crazy every Friday night
Drop it like it's hot in the pale moonlight
Grand Ole Opry, feelin' alright
Mary swayin' softly, to her heart's delight
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric
Sing that body electric
Sing that body electric
I'm on fire
I sing that body electric
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric, baby
Jesus is my bestest friend
We don't need nobody, 'cause we got each other
Or at least I pretend
We get down every Friday night
Dancin' and grindin' in the pale moonlight
Grand Ole Opry, we're feelin' alright
Mary prays the rosary for my broken mind
I said, "Don't worry 'bout it"
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric
Sing that body electric
Sing that body electric
I'm on fire
I sing that body electric
Whitman is my daddy, Monico's my mother
Diamonds are my bestest friend
Heaven is my baby, suicide's her father
Opulence is the end
We get down every Friday night
Dancin' and grindin' in the pale moonlight
Grand Ole Opry, we're feelin' alright
Mary prays the rosary for my broken mind
I said, "Don't worry 'bout it"
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric
Sing that body electric
Sing that body electric
I'm on fire
I sing that body electric
My clothes still smell like you
And all the photographs say you're still young
I pretend I'm not hurt
And go about the world like I'm havin' fun
We get crazy every Friday night
Drop it like it's hot in the pale moonlight
Grand Ole Opry, feelin' alright
Mary swayin' softly, to her heart's delight
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric
I sing the body electric
Sing that body electric
Sing that body electric
I'm on fire
I sing that body electric
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric, baby
I sing the body electric, baby
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from my point of view this is all about melancholy and of course her patriotism. walt whitman was an all-american writer who made a poem called "body electric" i have read it a few times but i guess its too deep for me and i cant find what it has to do with this song. Lana likes poetry a lot. In the intro of her song "ride" she says about how she wanted to make art with her words and stop being a groupie. No wonder she idolized a poem writer who was all-american. so this is a sad song about feeling lost and thinking marilyn and elvis are the ones who made up what she is now because they inspired her. the poem maybe is like her own personal anthem or alma mater.
oh, and remember when in "cola" she sings: "i pledge allegiance to my dad for teaching me everything he knows"
i dont know man, its just my opinion.
I have always associated Lana with Marilyn Monroe cause they both have this dark mystery about them,
hell yes they do, but marilyn got with kennedy and lana is getting with barrie o neil I: no sense
I love how when you hear her in interviews she's this smiley, bubbly girl with a cute little voice and a sweet personality. But her songs are so dark and mysterious, it's so interesting to me, trying to figure her out.
It may have a little to do with the poem by Walt Whitman "I Sing the Body Electric"
I've never read Whitman's poem, and it's obvious that there is probably a correlation, but from listening to the lyrics I get the impression that this song is about being intimate with someone that no longer loves you. Maybe she was recently broken up with, and she still loves him, but she's still hurt because they were only recently both in love. She stays intimate with him as a way to stay close to him, but she pretends everything is okay even though it really isn't.
Idk, maybe I'm reading too far into it.
I read every comment, and I think you all have a serious overlook. “Elvis is my dady... ... or at least I PRETEND”
Then again she says “Mary praise the rosary for my broken mind” Then whispers in sarcasm (I said don’t worry about it) This part of the song is sarcastic.
I read the whitman poem. Nothing that significant in regards to interpreting the song.
Her lyrics are a bit... repetitive.
Yes. She re-uses a lot of the same motifs/references and cliches a lot. These lyrics are similar to Summertime Sadness.