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.
If this was your first night
on earth would you fight
or scream your head off.
Would you find a place
touching your face
to phase for good.
What can we do you and me
we are here on those dead two eyes.
If this was your last chance
turn down your ear
God knows we feel your pain.
Come, come all ye faithful
you're hollow, you're hateful,
you can't believe your eyes.
What can we do you and me
we are here on the most dead two eyes.
We're homeward bound,
the world's too small for travelling now.
I keep on losing my voice,
but it finds you somehow.
What can we do?
on earth would you fight
or scream your head off.
Would you find a place
touching your face
to phase for good.
What can we do you and me
we are here on those dead two eyes.
If this was your last chance
turn down your ear
God knows we feel your pain.
Come, come all ye faithful
you're hollow, you're hateful,
you can't believe your eyes.
What can we do you and me
we are here on the most dead two eyes.
We're homeward bound,
the world's too small for travelling now.
I keep on losing my voice,
but it finds you somehow.
What can we do?
Lyrics submitted by PlaidIsRad
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beautiful song.
really bleak outlook on the world. almost overdone, but the exaggeration just seems to show how desensitized we are to some of the things around and how miserable some things really are if we can ignore the fact that we're used to it.
seemingly hopeless until the last verse "I keep on losing my voice / but it finds you somehow." through the turmoil, we can still reach those we care about.
wonderful. maybe i'm under-analyzing it but just my $0.02.