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.
The city streets are empty now
(The lights don't shine no more)
And so the songs are way down low
A sound that flows into my mind
(The echoes of the daylight)
Of everything that is alive
(In my blue world)
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
I turn to stone, when you comin' home
I can't go on
The dying embers of a night
(A fire that slowly fades 'till dawn)
Still glow upon the wall so bright (turning, turning)
The tired streets that hide away
(From here to everywhere they go)
Roll past my door into the day
In my blue world
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
I turn to stone, when you comin' home
I can't go on
Turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
Yes, I'm turnin' to stone
'Cause you ain't coming home
Why ain't you comin' home
If I'm turnin' to stone
You've been gone for so long
And I can't carry on
Yes, I'm turnin', I'm turnin'
I'm turnin' to stone
The dancing shadows on the wall
(The two-step in the hall)
Are all I see since you've been gone (turning, turning)
Through all I sit here and I wait
(I turn to stone, I turn to stone)
You will return again some day
To my blue world
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
I turn to stone, when you comin' home
I can't go on
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
Turn to stone, when you comin' home
I can't go on
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
(The lights don't shine no more)
And so the songs are way down low
A sound that flows into my mind
(The echoes of the daylight)
Of everything that is alive
(In my blue world)
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
I turn to stone, when you comin' home
I can't go on
The dying embers of a night
(A fire that slowly fades 'till dawn)
Still glow upon the wall so bright (turning, turning)
The tired streets that hide away
(From here to everywhere they go)
Roll past my door into the day
In my blue world
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
I turn to stone, when you comin' home
I can't go on
Turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
Yes, I'm turnin' to stone
'Cause you ain't coming home
Why ain't you comin' home
If I'm turnin' to stone
You've been gone for so long
And I can't carry on
Yes, I'm turnin', I'm turnin'
I'm turnin' to stone
The dancing shadows on the wall
(The two-step in the hall)
Are all I see since you've been gone (turning, turning)
Through all I sit here and I wait
(I turn to stone, I turn to stone)
You will return again some day
To my blue world
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
I turn to stone, when you comin' home
I can't go on
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
Turn to stone, when you comin' home
I can't go on
I turn to stone when you are gone
I turn to stone
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@Kenobi65 This is a great story, but the fact that this comment is older than I am is wild to me. Love this tune haha