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.
I saw you standing on the corner, you looked so big and fine
I really wanted to go out with you, so when you smiled
I laid my heart on the line
You read me my rights and then you said "Let's go" and nothing more
I thought of my nights, and how they were
They were filled with
I know you wouldn't go
You'd watch my heart burst then you'd step in
I had to know so I asked
You just had to laugh
We sat in the night with my hands cuffed at my side
I look at your life and your style
I wanted nothing more
I know you wouldn't go
You'd watch my heart burst then you'd step in
I had to know so I asked
You just had to laugh
Walking the line, you were a marksman
Told me that law, like wine, is ageless
Public defender
You had to admit
You wanted the love of a sex offender
I know you wouldn't go
You'd watch my heart burst then you'd step in
I had to know so I asked
You just had to laugh
My vision in blue, I call you from inside my cell
And in the trial, you were there
With your badge and rubber boots
I think all the time how I'm going to perpetrate love with you
And when I get out, there's no doubt I'll be sex offensive to you
I really wanted to go out with you, so when you smiled
I laid my heart on the line
You read me my rights and then you said "Let's go" and nothing more
I thought of my nights, and how they were
They were filled with
I know you wouldn't go
You'd watch my heart burst then you'd step in
I had to know so I asked
You just had to laugh
We sat in the night with my hands cuffed at my side
I look at your life and your style
I wanted nothing more
I know you wouldn't go
You'd watch my heart burst then you'd step in
I had to know so I asked
You just had to laugh
Walking the line, you were a marksman
Told me that law, like wine, is ageless
Public defender
You had to admit
You wanted the love of a sex offender
I know you wouldn't go
You'd watch my heart burst then you'd step in
I had to know so I asked
You just had to laugh
My vision in blue, I call you from inside my cell
And in the trial, you were there
With your badge and rubber boots
I think all the time how I'm going to perpetrate love with you
And when I get out, there's no doubt I'll be sex offensive to you
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
X-Offender Lyrics as written by Gary Valentine Deborah Harry
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mr. T Experience does a great cover of this song.
This song is so great. It shows teh horrible state of popular music when this song has 3 comments and Green Day songs have upwards of 100.
@xdarkentries <br /> Green Day suck.
''Bassist Gary Valentine originally wrote the song about an 18-year-old boy being arrested for having sex with his younger girlfriend. Debbie Harry changed the lyrics so that the song was about a prostitute being attracted to the police officer that had arrested her.''
but is that what the song is about tho??
"You had to admit you wanted, the love of a sex offender."
i love that line, and this song.
The FIRST song on the FIRST album by Blondie. Just awesome. So Blondie! Supposedly it was originally called "Sex Offender", but Chrysalis wouldn't let 'em use that title (how shocking!).
irreverant little organ playing the background. (Huh, 'organ').
Yes, was originally called Sex Offender and allegedly refers to an "incident" involving the writer Gary Valentine, who subsequently left the band........great album though, especially the first 3 tracks on the B side!
you have to explain what a B side is here, or the kids keep going to comment on Green Day alone.