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.
One last glance from a taxicab
Images scar my mind
Four weeks felt like years
Since your full attention was all mine
The night was young and so were we
Talked about life, God, death and your family
Didn't want any promises
Just my undivided honesty
And you say, oh, whoa
Things are gonna change now, for the better
And oh, whoa, things are gonna change
Oh, they're gonna change
I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes
A fraction of who I once believed
Change, only a matter of time
Opinions, I will try and rewrite
If life had background music
Playing your song
I've got to be honest, I tried to escape you
But the orchestra plays on
And they sing, oh, whoa
Things are gonna change now, for the better
And oh, whoa, things are gonna change
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Give me time to prove
Prove I want the rest of yours
Prelude
Call this a prelude to a lifetime of you
It's not that I hang on every word
I hang myself on what you repeat
It's not that I keep hanging on
I'm never letting go (letting go)
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Ooh, ooh
Save me from myself (ooh, ooh)
Save me from myself (ooh, ooh)
Help me, save me from myself (ooh, ooh)
Save me from myself (ooh, ooh)
Oh, whoa, things are gonna change now, for the better
And oh, whoa
Things are gonna change
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Images scar my mind
Four weeks felt like years
Since your full attention was all mine
The night was young and so were we
Talked about life, God, death and your family
Didn't want any promises
Just my undivided honesty
And you say, oh, whoa
Things are gonna change now, for the better
And oh, whoa, things are gonna change
Oh, they're gonna change
I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes
A fraction of who I once believed
Change, only a matter of time
Opinions, I will try and rewrite
If life had background music
Playing your song
I've got to be honest, I tried to escape you
But the orchestra plays on
And they sing, oh, whoa
Things are gonna change now, for the better
And oh, whoa, things are gonna change
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Give me time to prove
Prove I want the rest of yours
Prelude
Call this a prelude to a lifetime of you
It's not that I hang on every word
I hang myself on what you repeat
It's not that I keep hanging on
I'm never letting go (letting go)
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Ooh, ooh
Save me from myself (ooh, ooh)
Save me from myself (ooh, ooh)
Help me, save me from myself (ooh, ooh)
Save me from myself (ooh, ooh)
Oh, whoa, things are gonna change now, for the better
And oh, whoa
Things are gonna change
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
Hands, like secrets
Are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You dismantled me
You dismantled me
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I love this song! the meaning's pretty self-explanitory... love it