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.
Faded pictures in an old scrapbook
Faded pictures that somebody took
When you were hard and young and proud
Back against the wall running raw and loud
Snakeskin vest and a sharkskin suit
Cuban heels on your boots
Kick in the band and side by side
You take the crowd on their mystery ride
Knights of Columbus and the Fireman's Ball
Friday night at the Union Hall
Black leather clubs all along Route 9
You count the names of the missing as you count off time
Flock of angels lift me somehow
Somewhere high and hard and loud
Somewhere deep into the heart of the crowd
I'm the last man standing now
I'm the last man standing now
Out of school and out of work
Thrift store jeans and flannel shirts
The lights go down and we face the crowd
The last man standing now
Lights come up at the Legion Hall
Pool cues go back up on the wall
You pack your guitar and have one last beer
With just the ringing in your ears
Flock of angels lift me somehow
Somewhere high and hard and loud
Somewhere deep into the heart of the crowd
I'm the last man standing now
I'm the last man standing now
I'm the last man standing now
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Faded pictures that somebody took
When you were hard and young and proud
Back against the wall running raw and loud
Snakeskin vest and a sharkskin suit
Cuban heels on your boots
Kick in the band and side by side
You take the crowd on their mystery ride
Knights of Columbus and the Fireman's Ball
Friday night at the Union Hall
Black leather clubs all along Route 9
You count the names of the missing as you count off time
Flock of angels lift me somehow
Somewhere high and hard and loud
Somewhere deep into the heart of the crowd
I'm the last man standing now
I'm the last man standing now
Out of school and out of work
Thrift store jeans and flannel shirts
The lights go down and we face the crowd
The last man standing now
Lights come up at the Legion Hall
Pool cues go back up on the wall
You pack your guitar and have one last beer
With just the ringing in your ears
Flock of angels lift me somehow
Somewhere high and hard and loud
Somewhere deep into the heart of the crowd
I'm the last man standing now
I'm the last man standing now
I'm the last man standing now
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Last Man Standing Lyrics as written by Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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