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.
[Verse 1]
Her name is Noelle
I have a dream about her
She rings my bell
Got gym class in half an hour
Oh, how she rocks
In Keds and tube socks
But she doesn't know who I am
And she doesn't give a damn about me
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me
Ooh
[Verse 2]
And her boyfriend's a dick
And he brings a gun to school
And he'd simply kick
My ass if he knew the truth
He lives on my block
He drives an IROC
But he doesn't know who I am
And he doesn't give a damn about me
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me
Ooh
[Bridge]
Oh, yeah, dirtbag
No, she doesn't know what she's missin'
Oh, yeah, dirtbag
No, she doesn't know what she's missin'
[Verse 3]
Man, I feel like mold
It's prom night and I am lonely
Lo and behold
She's walkin' over to me
This must be fake
My lip starts to shake
How does she know who I am?
And why does she give a damn about me?
I've got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby
Come with me Friday, don't say maybe
I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby, like you
Ooh
[Outro]
Oh, yeah, dirtbag
No, she doesn't know what she's missin'
Oh, yeah, dirtbag
No, she doesn't know what she's missin'
Her name is Noelle
I have a dream about her
She rings my bell
Got gym class in half an hour
Oh, how she rocks
In Keds and tube socks
But she doesn't know who I am
And she doesn't give a damn about me
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me
Ooh
[Verse 2]
And her boyfriend's a dick
And he brings a gun to school
And he'd simply kick
My ass if he knew the truth
He lives on my block
He drives an IROC
But he doesn't know who I am
And he doesn't give a damn about me
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me
Ooh
[Bridge]
Oh, yeah, dirtbag
No, she doesn't know what she's missin'
Oh, yeah, dirtbag
No, she doesn't know what she's missin'
[Verse 3]
Man, I feel like mold
It's prom night and I am lonely
Lo and behold
She's walkin' over to me
This must be fake
My lip starts to shake
How does she know who I am?
And why does she give a damn about me?
I've got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby
Come with me Friday, don't say maybe
I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby, like you
Ooh
[Outro]
Oh, yeah, dirtbag
No, she doesn't know what she's missin'
Oh, yeah, dirtbag
No, she doesn't know what she's missin'
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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