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.
I want to be good, I want to be strong,
But I treated him bad, I've done him wrong.
I've taken his money, I'm given him hell
And he takes it all cause he knows me well.
We can say what we mean and mean what we say
We don't like to mess around,
But we're there to hold each other up
When we're falling down.
Just like an old friend
Putting me on my feet again,
Giving me back my pride then
Letting me go.
Just like an old friend
Putting me in my place again,
Giving me back my hope then
Letting me know that he's an old friend
I don't suffer no fools, I testify
But he must be one for being by my side.
I've broken his heart,
I've shaken his tree
But still he doesn't want anything from a fool like me.
We won't talk for a year or two
Maybe when we do we won't say much.
Even so we know that out of mind is never out of touch.
We're having a man-to-man
Don't want to get sentimental
But both of us understand
We'll never have to say goodbye, just see you later.
But I treated him bad, I've done him wrong.
I've taken his money, I'm given him hell
And he takes it all cause he knows me well.
We can say what we mean and mean what we say
We don't like to mess around,
But we're there to hold each other up
When we're falling down.
Just like an old friend
Putting me on my feet again,
Giving me back my pride then
Letting me go.
Just like an old friend
Putting me in my place again,
Giving me back my hope then
Letting me know that he's an old friend
I don't suffer no fools, I testify
But he must be one for being by my side.
I've broken his heart,
I've shaken his tree
But still he doesn't want anything from a fool like me.
We won't talk for a year or two
Maybe when we do we won't say much.
Even so we know that out of mind is never out of touch.
We're having a man-to-man
Don't want to get sentimental
But both of us understand
We'll never have to say goodbye, just see you later.
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its about someone who has been in your life for a long time, and some bad things where said, and years have gone by and they start talking again and have a better understanding of what else other was going through. No matter what they will always be friend.