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.
Everything is going up.
Everything is going as planned, yeah.
Everything moves along.
Everything is fine, fine, fine.
Oh I could be
Condemned to Hell for every sin but littering.
I could
Slip on the East River and crash into Queens all skittering.
I've seen the
Cops and the robbers, and I know they dance the same.
I've seen a
Half a zillion girls and haven't spoken to a single one of them.
Batting in the light,
My reptile-lidded eyes.
And all this strung end to end,
Is wider than the mind.
And this cool I've been playing I have been
Playing too long now my
Capacities are dwindling 'til they're
Gone Gone Gone.
Baby can I change my mind?
I just want to change my mind.
Everything is going as planned, yeah.
Everything moves along.
Everything is fine, fine, fine.
Oh I could be
Condemned to Hell for every sin but littering.
I could
Slip on the East River and crash into Queens all skittering.
I've seen the
Cops and the robbers, and I know they dance the same.
I've seen a
Half a zillion girls and haven't spoken to a single one of them.
Batting in the light,
My reptile-lidded eyes.
And all this strung end to end,
Is wider than the mind.
And this cool I've been playing I have been
Playing too long now my
Capacities are dwindling 'til they're
Gone Gone Gone.
Baby can I change my mind?
I just want to change my mind.
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This is one of my favorite SC songs..
it was originally called Luv Gangsters, because the "batting in the light" verse was originally:
"pistols on the sides, luv gangsters on the rise, yeah. pistols on the sides, luv gangsters on the rise."