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.
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I think he wants to take his relationship, which was until now essentially just two people having fun, to a new level. Instead of the standard dinner and a movie date he wants to get emotionally naked with her, to have her expose her inner self to him and to bond and to really know her.
I totally agree, it is not only about physical passion and wanting, it talks about deeper cognition of the other person and I hate when people see this amazing song only as expression of sexual appetite..
It's not about sex or nudity. He wants to see her(?) true "self". In a media driven society everyone has faces representing the image they want the people in the different aspects of their life to see. "Leave it to Beaver" mom to the kids and nieghbors, "Ally McBeal" in the workplace, " "I Dream of Genie" in the bedroom. The "Without your television" line is saying don't show me what "Cosmo" or "The View" tells you I want to see. Show me who you are.
I think it's about that nakedness of vulnerability.
Davesnothere and Schfifty both have it right. Humanity has a lot of social masks that we portray to people, he is saying to his partner that he wants to see her stripped of all of her societally driven masks, he wants her to be the person she truly is.
I mean obviously to each their own, but i feel thats what he was talking about. There is too much underlying meaning in the lyrics for it to just be a simple song of lust and primal urge.
Exactly!! I love your interpretation! Definitely NOT about sex! I agree that it's about wanting your lover to portray who they really are. With no games or defenses up. Wanting them to speak of their their true feelings just for you.
Just want to say this song has to be one of the greatest fucking songs ever. And when I say "fucking" I mean in a car, at the shoulder of the road, at sometime past midnight.
this is the best interpretation! really! thanks for great idea
This song is really addicting...any a little eerie as well. I have an in concert version and it's creepy how quiet the crowd gets when he sings but how much they cheer before and after. By the way, Shiny Toy Guns covered this song as well and it's really, really good.
i agree im listening to this right now.
Stripped is DM's most beautiful song. I can't believe 1/3 of the people on this page are talking about how they like some cover better... "Rammstein's version of Stripped is better because it's funny!"
IMO, the best version of this song is from 101 (the concert movie). You can find it on YouTube. It's really good.
About a romantic get-away from technology and modern society, but the song seems quite sinister as well.
Saturnine, thanks for mentioning 1984. Now I'm ashamed I didn't notice it myself.
I'm not sure if you're right, but it all fits pretty well, especially "just for a day" and "for a few hours", and of course the reference to "television".
Also "speaking just for me". In the country, they don't have to act for the screens.