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 an albatross around your neck
All the things you've said and the things you've done
Can you carry it with no regrets
Can you stand the person you've become
Oooh there's a light
Oooh there's a light
Your albatross, let it go, let it go
Your albatross, shoot it down, shoot it down
When you just can't shake the heavy weight of living
Stepping forward out into the day
Shrugging off the dust of memory
Though it's soaring still above your head
It is out of sight and none shall see
Oooh there's a light
Oooh there's a light
Your albatross, let it go, let it go
Your albatross, shoot it down, shoot it down
When you just can't shake the heavy weight of living
When you just can't seem to shake the weight of living
It's the sun in your eyes, in your eyes
It's the sun in your eyes, in your eyes
It's the sun in your eyes, in your eyes
It's the sun in your eyes, in your eyes
Your albatross, let it go, let it go
Your albatross, shoot it down, shoot it down
When you just can't shake the heavy weight of living
When you just can't seem to shake the weight of living
The weight of living
The weight of living
The weight of living
The weight of living
All the things you've said and the things you've done
Can you carry it with no regrets
Can you stand the person you've become
Oooh there's a light
Oooh there's a light
Your albatross, let it go, let it go
Your albatross, shoot it down, shoot it down
When you just can't shake the heavy weight of living
Stepping forward out into the day
Shrugging off the dust of memory
Though it's soaring still above your head
It is out of sight and none shall see
Oooh there's a light
Oooh there's a light
Your albatross, let it go, let it go
Your albatross, shoot it down, shoot it down
When you just can't shake the heavy weight of living
When you just can't seem to shake the weight of living
It's the sun in your eyes, in your eyes
It's the sun in your eyes, in your eyes
It's the sun in your eyes, in your eyes
It's the sun in your eyes, in your eyes
Your albatross, let it go, let it go
Your albatross, shoot it down, shoot it down
When you just can't shake the heavy weight of living
When you just can't seem to shake the weight of living
The weight of living
The weight of living
The weight of living
The weight of living
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Yeah, as musicismylife7 already said this song is not titled "Albatross". The real title is "Weight of Living, Pt. 1".
@evej Do you live in the UK? It might be called Albatross there.