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.
We keep drifting on and on
across this barren wasteland
seared earth laid waste
on another plane of existence
blinding brilliant light
alludes to the illusion of serenity
so show me what it takes
to fall asleep on the eve of destruction
set ablaze like the plague in our brooding creations
look up and align with the fire in the skies
blinding brilliant light
alludes to the illusion of serenity
so show me what it takes
to fall asleep on the eve of destruction
cracked with the drought
something amiss in the bleak blissed out
song in our heads
completely depleted
blinding brilliant light
alludes to the illusion of serenity
so show me what it takes
to fall asleep on the eve of destruction
flashing fading in and out showered in sweet redemption
that final glimpse into abyss on the brink of eruption
across this barren wasteland
seared earth laid waste
on another plane of existence
blinding brilliant light
alludes to the illusion of serenity
so show me what it takes
to fall asleep on the eve of destruction
set ablaze like the plague in our brooding creations
look up and align with the fire in the skies
blinding brilliant light
alludes to the illusion of serenity
so show me what it takes
to fall asleep on the eve of destruction
cracked with the drought
something amiss in the bleak blissed out
song in our heads
completely depleted
blinding brilliant light
alludes to the illusion of serenity
so show me what it takes
to fall asleep on the eve of destruction
flashing fading in and out showered in sweet redemption
that final glimpse into abyss on the brink of eruption
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I don't know what it's about, but I love the drumming.