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.
Just three miles from the rest stop
And she slams on the breaks
She said I tried to be but I'm not
And could you please collect your things
I don't wanna be cold
I don't wanna be cruel
But I gotta find more
Than what's happening with you
If you'd, open up the door
She said, while you were sleeping
I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
So I thought, hell if it's over
I had better end it quick
Or I could lose my nerve
Are you listening, can you hear me
Have you forgotten
Just three miles from the rest stop
And my mouth's too dry to rage
The light was shining from the radio
I could barely see her face
But she knew all the words that I never had said
She knew the crumpled-up promise of this
Broken down man, and as I opened up the door
She said, while you were sleeping
I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
So I thought, hell if it's over
I had better end it quick
Or I could lose my nerve
Are you listening, can you hear me
Have you forgotten
She said, while you were sleeping
I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
So I thought, hell if it's over
I had better end it quick
Or I could lose my nerve
Are you listening, can you hear me
While you were sleeping
I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
So I thought, hell if it's over
I had better end it quick
Or I could lose all my nerve
Are you listening, can you hear me
And she slams on the breaks
She said I tried to be but I'm not
And could you please collect your things
I don't wanna be cold
I don't wanna be cruel
But I gotta find more
Than what's happening with you
If you'd, open up the door
She said, while you were sleeping
I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
So I thought, hell if it's over
I had better end it quick
Or I could lose my nerve
Are you listening, can you hear me
Have you forgotten
Just three miles from the rest stop
And my mouth's too dry to rage
The light was shining from the radio
I could barely see her face
But she knew all the words that I never had said
She knew the crumpled-up promise of this
Broken down man, and as I opened up the door
She said, while you were sleeping
I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
So I thought, hell if it's over
I had better end it quick
Or I could lose my nerve
Are you listening, can you hear me
Have you forgotten
She said, while you were sleeping
I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
So I thought, hell if it's over
I had better end it quick
Or I could lose my nerve
Are you listening, can you hear me
While you were sleeping
I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
So I thought, hell if it's over
I had better end it quick
Or I could lose all my nerve
Are you listening, can you hear me
Lyrics submitted by punkmebabygal
Rest Stop Lyrics as written by Rob Thomas
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i dont think that the lyrics: "it came to mind i didnt care" doesnt mean moving on from a realationship--i think this line is in the words of the girl: she doesn't give a damn what her boyfriend is dreaming about and so she must not love him
The guys of Matchbox 20 write some of the saddest songs but they are all so great. I heard Rob Thomas say that he wrote this after he went on a road trip with a girl that he loved and she actually kicked him out of the car near a rest stop because she wanted out of the relationship and wanted to find what else is out there. I love the song and pretty much everything that Matchbox has done.
this song is so...vivid. when you listen to it, you can see it happening. it breaks my heart.
I went to the MB20 concert and i had only heard there more famous songs and i didnt really like the band, but when i left i was obsessed w/ them...this was the song i remembered most. Rob said it was about when he was younger and he met this girl and he just fell in love w/ her and one moment the girl just realized that she didnt really love him like he did...great true song
To me, Rob is describing an actual situation perfectly, you can see what's happening from the outside. I don't think it's methaforical at all. Rob spend some of his teenage years hitchhiking, he basically used to live his life on the road. And that girl did stopped his car and dumped him right there. He knows laughs about it, but being that young he remembers being deeply hurt by that (in his words "bitch") woman.
@Gabigs indeed, that' what happened. It talks about it in VH1's storytellers youtube.com/watch in minute 50. Great chapter btw
The meaning to me is simple. I've lived it more than once.
Someone is just done with you. Done with you to the point where they really don't care if you live or die, or what the outcomes that come afterward mean.
"It came to mind that I didn't care".
Rob (or maybe all of us) want to feel like someone cares.
But theres that moment of isolation, where all of the oxygen comes out of the room and you realize how alone you are.
Thats why the line "just 3 miles from the rest stop".
If the rest stop was hit before the impulse decision was made he would have had a better shot on the high way.
Thats when he realizes how truly alone he is.
Couldn't even go 3 miles before this moment.
this song is so incredibly sad... and it's a true story, too. it gets to me every time.
oh man...I know exactly what you mean. It's a great song. The whole cd is pretty decent, too.
definitely. it's different from their first, but definitely as good, if not better
i love this song. the first time i heard it, the same kinda thing had happened to me. I really really loved a girl and she realized she didnt feel quite as strongly as i did and we broke up. I related this song to her and i always will.