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.
Well, East coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there
The Midwest farmer's daughters really make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
The West coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a French bikini on Hawaiian island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand
I been all around this great big world
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the States
Back to the cutest girls in the world
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there
The Midwest farmer's daughters really make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
The West coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a French bikini on Hawaiian island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand
I been all around this great big world
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the States
Back to the cutest girls in the world
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
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A long long time ago, back in the stone age, when Napster was still going, I dug up an a cappella version of this track. Turned out that you could still hear the instruments in the background. Versions such as those are the real ones which expose the brilliance of the harmonies on this track.
As I remember, about this track, Bruce had just come into the band, and, within about ten minutes, had this thrust underneath his nose... though I can't remember all the details about this song that I should.