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.
this man you love, this boy you hate
the hills are his in all embrace
enchanted and not soon lost
this man you call with lover's draw
so coarse in kind it can't be sought
for leaving is what i do
i declare myself
declare myself of faith
i declare myself
declare myself of faith
ever wonder why they kill the weak ones, baby
there's no one here to care
someone always thought a good reason, baby
just why we're really here
affirm my power to spend my dollars, to get us home, yeah
i've got no money, got no secrets
maybe we were born to kiss another
maybe we were born to run forever
or maybe we were born to come together, or whatever
kiss me alone
this boy you chance, this man you'll find
will dry the tears behind your eyes
so stop laughing and play the muse
this heartache rots that which spills
from my heart into your will
so give in to the rivers wind
i declare myself
declare myself of faith
i declare myself
declare myself of faith
every wonder why they kill the weak ones, baby
so they can to testify
for every single ghost on that freeway, baby
has got to give a mild holler to spend my dollars
we've got to get away
i've got no money, got no secrets
maybe we were born to love each other
maybe we were born to run forever
or maybe we were born to come together, or whatever
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love each other
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love each other
kiss me alone
the hills are his in all embrace
enchanted and not soon lost
this man you call with lover's draw
so coarse in kind it can't be sought
for leaving is what i do
i declare myself
declare myself of faith
i declare myself
declare myself of faith
ever wonder why they kill the weak ones, baby
there's no one here to care
someone always thought a good reason, baby
just why we're really here
affirm my power to spend my dollars, to get us home, yeah
i've got no money, got no secrets
maybe we were born to kiss another
maybe we were born to run forever
or maybe we were born to come together, or whatever
kiss me alone
this boy you chance, this man you'll find
will dry the tears behind your eyes
so stop laughing and play the muse
this heartache rots that which spills
from my heart into your will
so give in to the rivers wind
i declare myself
declare myself of faith
i declare myself
declare myself of faith
every wonder why they kill the weak ones, baby
so they can to testify
for every single ghost on that freeway, baby
has got to give a mild holler to spend my dollars
we've got to get away
i've got no money, got no secrets
maybe we were born to love each other
maybe we were born to run forever
or maybe we were born to come together, or whatever
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love each other
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
kiss me alone
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love
maybe we were born to love each other
kiss me alone
Lyrics submitted by ObscuredInDevotion
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but it is called declaration of faith and lyric sets the tone for the whole album with it's repetitions of 'here comes my faith...'
billy is deeply religious, and a lot of his songs include religion if you choose to look for it... sometimes it is blatant, sometimes it is not... i personally think it's a little over the top sometimes (jesus, i), but i still love the songs musically...
but i personally find anyone who is so in-your-face about religion to be kind of obnoxious... keep it to yourself, please!