Jonestown Tea
by Otep

Album: Sevas Tra (2002)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is a song that Otep Shamaya wrote about her father. She was sexually abused by him earlier in her life and in this song she talks about what she remembered from when he was abusing her and how she feels now. This is one of Otep's more personal songs.
  • Sevas Tra is the band's first album. Otep Shamaya says it "is a story about life's struggles and what you do to overcome them,or what you do to be swallowed by them." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Anethum - Grand Junction, CO, for above 2
  • Jonestown was a commune in Guyana where cult leader Jim Jones led his followers in 1978. Once there, he ordered them to drink poisoned Kool-Aid, leading to the mass suicide of over 900 people. In this song, the Jonestown Tea is a metaphor for the abuse.

Comments: 2

  • KertovDid Otep herself said anything about lyrics? Because she once said on Twitter that "her father and all of her brothers are her best friends", so it seems that she sexually abused by another person, not her dad
  • Lillie from Zachary 1.This song explains her experience as a child when her dad raped and sexual abused her. 2.During the song when she sings,”I got this hot pot of Jonestown tea it been brewing for you and me it only takes one sip come on baby surrender your lips,” it talks about a the people temple known as Jonestown ended in November 18,1978 when Jim Jones decided to end his life and 908 of his followers with a kook aid drink laced with cynainde 300 of them being children.
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