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.
Back to life, back to reality
Back to life, back to reality
Back to life, back to reality
Back to the here and now, oh yeah
Show me how
Decide what you want from me
Tell me maybe I could be there for you
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How (however)
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
Back to life
Back to the present time
Back from a fantasy, yes
Tell me now, take the initiative
I'll leave it in your hands
Until you're ready, yeah
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me? (Oh, well, how do you want me?)
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me? (However)
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you need me?
I live at the top of the block (top of the block)
No more room (no more room)
For trouble and fuss (no, no, no, there's not)
Need a change, a positive change
Look, it's me writing on the wall
Ever, do you want me, yes
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me? (Oh, oh, oh)
However, do you need me? (Tell me, now, how do you want me to be? Yeah)
Back to life, back to the day we had
Let's end this foolish game
Hear me out, don't let it waste away
Make up your mind, so I know where I stand
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me? (However)
However, do you need me? (Do you need me?)
However, do you want me? (Need me)
However, do you need me? (Tell me now)
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? (Tell me, now, how do you want me to be? Yeah)
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How (oh, oh)
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
Back to life, back to reality
Back to life, back to reality
Back to the here and now, oh yeah
Show me how
Decide what you want from me
Tell me maybe I could be there for you
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How (however)
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
Back to life
Back to the present time
Back from a fantasy, yes
Tell me now, take the initiative
I'll leave it in your hands
Until you're ready, yeah
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me? (Oh, well, how do you want me?)
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me? (However)
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you need me?
I live at the top of the block (top of the block)
No more room (no more room)
For trouble and fuss (no, no, no, there's not)
Need a change, a positive change
Look, it's me writing on the wall
Ever, do you want me, yes
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me? (Oh, oh, oh)
However, do you need me? (Tell me, now, how do you want me to be? Yeah)
Back to life, back to the day we had
Let's end this foolish game
Hear me out, don't let it waste away
Make up your mind, so I know where I stand
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me? (However)
However, do you need me? (Do you need me?)
However, do you want me? (Need me)
However, do you need me? (Tell me now)
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? (Tell me, now, how do you want me to be? Yeah)
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me? How (oh, oh)
However, do you want me?
However, do you need me?
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WHAT? Not ONE comment on this song of songs? Now I KNOW that the world is doomed, and deserving of condemnation and judgement from a holy and righteous God.
"Look it's me writing on the wall..."
This is a great mid-tempo positive song. :)
This song seems to be about returning to Reality with a capital "R" & getting present to the "here & NOW", Stepping out of the fantasy (the ego/collective delusion). Surrendering to God (The Godforce, LIFE, Universe). Being available to do God's Will. God's Plan. Life's Flow:
"However do You Want me, However do You need me"
This song is just beautiful! Powerful gorgeous voices... great transitions... really truly amazing work. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Back from a fantasy and back to life; to reality; Back to the present day we have. (Life seems to be an illusion; a place of make-believe or possibly deceit; and the singer wants to be real). ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// I live at the top of the block. (Maybe this is some slang I am unaware of. I dunno. I don't get out much. The word block has so many meanings and remains the key word for interpretation. Block could mean a place to be molded; perhaps a particular place in life; a sailing term implying a new direction; all of which offer a slight different interpretation.) ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Look it's me writing on the wall. Hear me out, don't let me waste away. No more room for trouble or fuss. Need a change, a positive change. Let's end this foolish game. (The singer’s thoughts are on full display. Life is wasting away, and something good is desired. A change is sought for sure.) ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The chorus is:
However do you want me However do you need me How, however do you want me Also, Decide what you want from me. Tell me maybe I could be there for you Yeah tell me now, take the initiative. Show me how, I'll leave it in your hands until you're ready. Make up your mind so I know where I stand. (These words are a sign of trust, Looking for guidance, or direction; or a new way… it is a huge surrender of some sort.) ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Therefore....This song could easily be regarded as a religious surrender. It could be regarded as one looking for a commitment from another. It could be regarded as self-motivation where one realizes that life has been an illusion and a new realistic approach is indeed needed. Truly amazing song - LOVE IT!
My friend and I did like tiles of our favourite 80s albums. We were limited to 16 or 20 selections.
My mate put Club Classics Vol. 1 in his.
I said no. You can't put that in.
He argued about how good it was. He used words like iconic.
I agreed with most of what he said. It's a decent album and it never fails to make me happier than before I played it. Reminding me of better days. I had my hair. I had my youth. I had optimism. I had opportunities.
Shall I tell you what I didn't have?
A proper version of Back To Life. As rich and beautiful as her voice is. I wanted the beats. I wanted the bass. I wanted those strings.
I went to London to buy a Tshirt from the Soul 2 Soul shop. I have to admit, I was disappointed that Jazzie B wasn't actually in the shop. I pictured him, stood in the doorway, imparting words of wisdom to passers by.
Those in the know, stopping to shuffle around to the break beats before moving on.
Those not in the know complaining about the acapella Back To Life on Club Classics Vol. 1
I really liked what little I heard of Volume 3 till my tape player mangled it.