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.
Tell all my friends I'm dead
I'm leaving you
This time it's for good
Tell all my friends that I'm dead
It won't be long before you forget
My na-aa-aa-ame
Can you tell that I'm losing myself?
I think I'm trying too hard to
Let it show
To let you know
Don't trace your footsteps back to me
'Cause I've been gone for a long time
Waiting on the sidelines
Hoping for a chance to play
Well, I thought I would never leave anything behind
I also never thought I'd say
Tell all my friends I'm dead
I'm leaving you
This time it's for good
Tell all my friends that I'm dead
It won't be long before you forget
My na-aa-aa-ame
Can't you tell that I don't know myself?
I need someone to remind me
To let it go
Please let me know
Don't trace your footsteps back to me
'Cause I've been gone for a long time
Waiting on the sidelines
Hoping for a chance to play
Well, I thought I would never leave anything behind
I also never thought I'd say
And if I had the chance
(Had the chance)
To do it all again
I wouldn't expect anything less
And if I had the chance
(Had the chance)
To do it all again
I wouldn't expect
I wouldn't expect anything less
Forget my name
I'm leaving you
This time it's for good
Tell all my friends that I'm dead
It won't be long before you forget
My na-aa-aa-ame
Can you tell that I'm losing myself?
I think I'm trying too hard to
Let it show
To let you know
Don't trace your footsteps back to me
'Cause I've been gone for a long time
Waiting on the sidelines
Hoping for a chance to play
Well, I thought I would never leave anything behind
I also never thought I'd say
Tell all my friends I'm dead
I'm leaving you
This time it's for good
Tell all my friends that I'm dead
It won't be long before you forget
My na-aa-aa-ame
Can't you tell that I don't know myself?
I need someone to remind me
To let it go
Please let me know
Don't trace your footsteps back to me
'Cause I've been gone for a long time
Waiting on the sidelines
Hoping for a chance to play
Well, I thought I would never leave anything behind
I also never thought I'd say
And if I had the chance
(Had the chance)
To do it all again
I wouldn't expect anything less
And if I had the chance
(Had the chance)
To do it all again
I wouldn't expect
I wouldn't expect anything less
Forget my name
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