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.
Seeds in my head
Visions in red
All that I dreamed
And all that I've bled
My mind is a gun
I won't be outdone
Say what you want
While I shoot for the sun
All you doubters and haters, actors, and fakers
I don't have time for you, whoa
You're feeding the fire that's taking me higher
Coming like a cannonball
Oh, it's kicking down your door
Kicking down your door
Oh, so what you waiting for
What you waiting for
Scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Step out of the haze
Sleep walkers awake
The pills that they give
You don't have to take
Don't want to see light
They cover our eyes
Yesterday's dead
Tomorrow's alive
All you movers and shakers
Freaks and hell raisers
We're climbing over your walls
You're feeding the fire that's taking us higher
Coming like a cannonball
Oh, it's kicking down your door
Kicking down your door
Oh, so what you waiting for
What you waiting for
Scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Oh, it's kicking down your door
Kicking down your door
Oh, so what you waiting for
What you waiting for
Scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Visions in red
All that I dreamed
And all that I've bled
My mind is a gun
I won't be outdone
Say what you want
While I shoot for the sun
All you doubters and haters, actors, and fakers
I don't have time for you, whoa
You're feeding the fire that's taking me higher
Coming like a cannonball
Oh, it's kicking down your door
Kicking down your door
Oh, so what you waiting for
What you waiting for
Scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Step out of the haze
Sleep walkers awake
The pills that they give
You don't have to take
Don't want to see light
They cover our eyes
Yesterday's dead
Tomorrow's alive
All you movers and shakers
Freaks and hell raisers
We're climbing over your walls
You're feeding the fire that's taking us higher
Coming like a cannonball
Oh, it's kicking down your door
Kicking down your door
Oh, so what you waiting for
What you waiting for
Scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Oh, it's kicking down your door
Kicking down your door
Oh, so what you waiting for
What you waiting for
Scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Scream
Scream
Till they hear your scream
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher, edited by gracemcnulty
Scream Lyrics as written by Elizabeth Hale Dave Bassett
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Spirit Within
Bertoldi Brothers
Bertoldi Brothers
Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
Grand Theft Auto
Insane Ian
Insane Ian
The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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.