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.
You got my pride
hanging out of my bed
You're messin' around with my life
So I bought my ...
You even mess with my children
And you're screamin' at my wife, baby
Get off my back,
if you wanna get outta here alife
Freedom, give it to me
That's what I want now
Freedom, that's what I need now
Freedom to live
Freedom, so I can give
You got my heart
speak electric water
You got my soul
screamin' and howlin'
You know you hook my girlfriend
You know the drug¨store man
But I don't need it now
I was trying to slap it out of her head
Freedom, so I can give
Freedom, yeah
Freedom, that's what I need
You don't have to say that you love
if you don't mean it
You'd better believe
If you need me
or you just wanna bleed me
you'd better stickin' your dagger in someone else
So I can leave
Set me free
(Yeah)
Right on, straight ahead
Stay up and straight ahead
Freedom
hanging out of my bed
You're messin' around with my life
So I bought my ...
You even mess with my children
And you're screamin' at my wife, baby
Get off my back,
if you wanna get outta here alife
Freedom, give it to me
That's what I want now
Freedom, that's what I need now
Freedom to live
Freedom, so I can give
You got my heart
speak electric water
You got my soul
screamin' and howlin'
You know you hook my girlfriend
You know the drug¨store man
But I don't need it now
I was trying to slap it out of her head
Freedom, so I can give
Freedom, yeah
Freedom, that's what I need
You don't have to say that you love
if you don't mean it
You'd better believe
If you need me
or you just wanna bleed me
you'd better stickin' your dagger in someone else
So I can leave
Set me free
(Yeah)
Right on, straight ahead
Stay up and straight ahead
Freedom
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Cool song by the greatest. I really don't know what it is about but it may have something to do with the Black Panthers. They wanted Jimi to join them.
This does seem to be a civil rights song.
Jimi never wrote beautiful lyrics to read.......but if you listened to the way he sung those lyrics they became very beautiful or at least brought much greater meaning to those words.
Amazing blast off of a start......at this point in his career Jimi wasn't as concerned with a smooth pop song and this certainly ins't smooth, but you won't hear to many songs better
I can see how this might be about the Panthers, especially the lyrics "You don't have to say that you love, if you don't mean it". At first I thought this song was about a potential suitor that was rejected, but the Black Panther explanation sounds more appropriate.
@sir_schwick Jimi was quite apolitical though, don't think he'd make such a strong statement against them ... but maybe he did
the descending bass line in the beginning is awesome. great song, nuff said.
"jimi never wrote beautiful lyrics to read" haha good one.... ever heard of little wing?
Could this possibly be about drugs? My first thought was a relationship, but the different stories and other aspects make me think perhaps drugs??
Chasing freedom from the addictive nature of drugs and the influences they've had on life. The first verse could be that the drugs are affecting his ability to be with his children and causing fights with his wife. The last line could suggest that if he doesn't kick it, he won't get out of here alive.
The second verse definitely seems to suggest a drug habit.
The third verse ... is about the only one that suggests it is something else. Although could be using a metaphor (of back stabbing) in that drugs make things feel better but in reality make the situation worse.
I tend to try find lyrics that don't suggest drugs ... but given the culture of drugs at the time, and the lyrics used it seems the most straightforward.
"Freedom" refers largely to Devon Wilson, metaphorising her as a restriction on personal freedom.[5] Despite this negative connotation, Wilson is also saluted as a useful person to have around, in that she gets rid of unwanted/extra women ("you've hooked my girlfriend") and has useful connections ("you know the drugstore man"). The song can be considered the second half of "Dolly Dagger", as both songs refer to Wilson and her character, and they also show Jimi's growing dislike of electronic studio tricks and his favouring of instrumentally complex arrangements.[5] Both songs also feature backing vocals from Arthur and Albert Allen. It also can be tied to the African American struggle of the early 1900's.