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.
There's a lot of things I could have done
Little tokens of my love
That I was always saving up to spend
It's the thought that counts, I guess
Even ones that don't make sense
Even when it's easy to forget
To much time for the self-employed
I heard you scream in your mother's voice
So afraid you'd become her in the end
You want a life that you cannot live
But that is what keeps you competitive
Throw another shower for a friend
Tell me where it is
Because I'm looking for their happiness
C'mon, tell me where it is
For the sake now of the argument
C'mon, tell me where it is
Because I'm looking for their happiness
C'mon, tell me where it is
Because I'm looking
Not yet a mother but a good complex
You like the boys when they're scared of sex
What a shame that they grow up to be men
Well, maybe father does know best
And that's the reason why he left
All your pride to the last ditch you defend
It took a while to accept our fate
And all the chance it eliminates
Once we did there was nothing to pretend
Always say there's a time and place
So maybe ours will consolidate
If they do I will greet you as a friend
You can show me where it is
Because I'm looking for your happiness
C'mon, show me where it is
Now you found it all by accident
C'mon, show me where it is
Because I'm looking for your happiness
C'mon, tell me where it is
Because I'm looking
Little tokens of my love
That I was always saving up to spend
It's the thought that counts, I guess
Even ones that don't make sense
Even when it's easy to forget
To much time for the self-employed
I heard you scream in your mother's voice
So afraid you'd become her in the end
You want a life that you cannot live
But that is what keeps you competitive
Throw another shower for a friend
Tell me where it is
Because I'm looking for their happiness
C'mon, tell me where it is
For the sake now of the argument
C'mon, tell me where it is
Because I'm looking for their happiness
C'mon, tell me where it is
Because I'm looking
Not yet a mother but a good complex
You like the boys when they're scared of sex
What a shame that they grow up to be men
Well, maybe father does know best
And that's the reason why he left
All your pride to the last ditch you defend
It took a while to accept our fate
And all the chance it eliminates
Once we did there was nothing to pretend
Always say there's a time and place
So maybe ours will consolidate
If they do I will greet you as a friend
You can show me where it is
Because I'm looking for your happiness
C'mon, show me where it is
Now you found it all by accident
C'mon, show me where it is
Because I'm looking for your happiness
C'mon, tell me where it is
Because I'm looking
Lyrics submitted by offoff
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I think it's about our Great Mother, and her daughter here on Earth...
Does anyone else make that connection?