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.
Three inches above the floor
Man in a box wants to burn my soul
And I'm tired
"Is that the truth?" he says
The pain is easy
Too many words, too many words
And I can hear 'em
And I can hear 'em
And I can hear 'em, I can hear 'em
And I can hear 'em
If you’re hearing screams
Come back, child, come back
My hands are dry
But I know they're gonna make it just one more night
Too many words, too many words
And I can hear 'em
And I can hear 'em
And I can hear 'em, I can hear 'em
And I can hear 'em
[Instrumental Bridge]
And I can hear 'em
And I can hear 'em
And I can hear 'em, I can hear 'em
And I can hear 'em
Lyrics submitted by typo, edited by firstsongbird
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For me the narrator is standing in a court room. What @laurelinwyntre noted about the witness box is brilliant. So, the witness is accusing the narrator of a crime he never committed "Is that the truth he says". His hands are "dry" of blood, he's innocent, but "they’re gonna make it", in the end all they need is time to convict him. "If you're hearing screams Come back child, come back" For me this verse refers to the "crime scene". All he wanted to do was to help whoever was screaming. He advises us not to do the same, as he was accused of the crime. All in all, the whole song seems like a metaphor for our world. A world where atrocities are committed and the innocent man is the one to blame. The narrator has reached a point of despair; he's tired of living in a world like this. At least this is what I think. There is room for much interpretation with this song.