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.
[Chorus]
Along the way to close my eyes
I lost where I was going
The more it will spin the more that I try
To stop my mind flowing
Away away
To all that I despise
Along the way to close my eyes
You can't be let down if you don't expect the world
Expect to lay awake there by your sleeping girl
If somebody cares then there is no way you can tell
Cursed consciousness it's your private hell
[Chorus]
Tick tick tick the clock bludgeons your mind
Endlessly replaying times that were unkind
Go away sun I'm not prepared for you today
It seems you are it seems you are
[Chorus]
Along the way to close my eyes
I lost where I was going
The more it will spin the more that I try
To stop my mind flowing
Away away
To all that I despise
Along the way to close my eyes
You can't be let down if you don't expect the world
Expect to lay awake there by your sleeping girl
If somebody cares then there is no way you can tell
Cursed consciousness it's your private hell
[Chorus]
Tick tick tick the clock bludgeons your mind
Endlessly replaying times that were unkind
Go away sun I'm not prepared for you today
It seems you are it seems you are
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by pen1234567
Flowing Lyrics as written by Nicholas Hexum
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is all about nicks insomnia...but there are so many parts where you can relate to... "cursed consciousness is your private hell" its soo true... and this song has such a great melody...its sickening
I don't think really this about insomnia. It's about focusing your mind to create a "spin" as you fall asleep in order to "lose" where you were going. I interpret that as an out of body kind of thing. This song is about being able to control the flow of your mind (by not thinking of "all that you despise"). If you can stop you can stop your mind from flowing away from Now, your good.
"Along the way to close my eyes I lost where I was going the more it will spin the more that I try to stop my mind flowing away, away to all that I despise along the way to close my eyes"
The next part is about expecting the world, so you don't ever get let down. Your single, the expect to lay awake by your sleeping dream girl (not doubting it). The last two lines are only to those who have lost their way to the point that they cannot tell when people care about them. It's the cursed consciousness that is Hell. It's in your head.
"You can't be let down if you don't expect the world expect to lay awake and by your sleeping girl if somebody cares then there is no way you can tell cursed consciousness is your private hell"
The chorus really is the best though! And this last one's again about your mind straying away from the moment. And I can see how insomnia can be seen as the meaning of this song, but I think that's just the surface. The sun in the morning represents the day, the now. You may think your not prepared for the sun but you can't avoid it.
"Tick, tick, tick the clock bludgeons your mind endlessly replaying times that were unkind go away sun I'm not prepared for you today it seems you are, it seems you are, huh!"
"Focusing your mind to create a spin as you fall asleep" Awesome. I relate. Nice interpretation.
"You can’t be let down if you don’t expect the world.." is another line I can really relate to...
You're right about the melody being totally infectious...the first time I heard this song I loved it immediately. I couldn't get it out of my head for...well, I'm still trying actually :-)
This is a beautiful song ...
Yeah, this is a pretty nice song
For a fellow insomnia sufferer yeah i can relate to it! lol i love the lyrics, about how his mind is flowing away, its like how i feel too the harder i try the more i can't get to sleep and it drives me insane, anyways 311 has yet to disappont me i love all their songs
i love this song...period.
really nice song..insomnia sucks i think i have it too
insomnia...that's a pain in the ass..u r all right