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.
who i am
retort to toiletmouth
now louder answer
the firmest fist and kiss its
asked me again
how gameshow season never ends
the same old reason i won't win
suspended in this animation
i could use a new vacation
namelessly the nameless and the faceless go to make up
tell me i'm not spending too much time on happy endings
and my life does not rely on how much love you might be lending me
above there's so much i'm depending on remembering more instead
you send me door to door to have the family cat attack the stranger
back by popular demand
stand as you were
before you saw your parting gift in stores
you poured your empty heart in it but finished what you started
when you practiced and rehearsed
to find the god before he finds you first
in dirty words and poison dreams
like girls who flirt while boys are teens
you're only asking for one thing
it's never only make believe to me
tell me i'm not spending too much time on happy endings
and my life does not rely on how much love you might be lending me
above there's so much i'm depending on remembering more instead of
war with me, myself, and i
i'm headed for the stranger in the sky
resort in paradise
now louder answer
the wish and kiss is good
retort to toiletmouth
now louder answer
the firmest fist and kiss its
asked me again
how gameshow season never ends
the same old reason i won't win
suspended in this animation
i could use a new vacation
namelessly the nameless and the faceless go to make up
tell me i'm not spending too much time on happy endings
and my life does not rely on how much love you might be lending me
above there's so much i'm depending on remembering more instead
you send me door to door to have the family cat attack the stranger
back by popular demand
stand as you were
before you saw your parting gift in stores
you poured your empty heart in it but finished what you started
when you practiced and rehearsed
to find the god before he finds you first
in dirty words and poison dreams
like girls who flirt while boys are teens
you're only asking for one thing
it's never only make believe to me
tell me i'm not spending too much time on happy endings
and my life does not rely on how much love you might be lending me
above there's so much i'm depending on remembering more instead of
war with me, myself, and i
i'm headed for the stranger in the sky
resort in paradise
now louder answer
the wish and kiss is good
Lyrics submitted by _whatjusthappened
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It reminds me of Radiohead. I love this line:to find the god before he finds you first.