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.
Come è bella c'è la luna brilla è strette
Strette come è tutta bella a passeggiare
Sotto il cielo di Roma
Down each avenue or via, street or strada
You can see 'em disappearin' two by two
On an evenin' in Roma
Do they take 'em for espresso, yeah, I guess so
On each lover's arm a girl, I wish I knew
On an evenin' in Roma
Though there's grinin' and mandolinin' in sunny Italy
The beginning has just begun when the sun goes down
So please meet me in the plaza near your casa
I am only one and that is much too few
On an evenin' in Roma
Don't know what the country's comin' to
But in Rome do as the Romans do
Will you on an evenin' in Roma?
Though there's grinin' and mandolinin' in sunny Italy
The beginning has just begun when the sun goes down
Come è bella c'è la luna brilla è strette
Strette come è tutta bella a passeggiare
Sotto il cielo di Roma
Don't know what the country's comin' to
But in Rome do as the Romans do
Will you on an evenin' in Roma?
Sott'er celo de Roma
On an evenin' in Roma
Strette come è tutta bella a passeggiare
Sotto il cielo di Roma
Down each avenue or via, street or strada
You can see 'em disappearin' two by two
On an evenin' in Roma
Do they take 'em for espresso, yeah, I guess so
On each lover's arm a girl, I wish I knew
On an evenin' in Roma
Though there's grinin' and mandolinin' in sunny Italy
The beginning has just begun when the sun goes down
So please meet me in the plaza near your casa
I am only one and that is much too few
On an evenin' in Roma
Don't know what the country's comin' to
But in Rome do as the Romans do
Will you on an evenin' in Roma?
Though there's grinin' and mandolinin' in sunny Italy
The beginning has just begun when the sun goes down
Come è bella c'è la luna brilla è strette
Strette come è tutta bella a passeggiare
Sotto il cielo di Roma
Don't know what the country's comin' to
But in Rome do as the Romans do
Will you on an evenin' in Roma?
Sott'er celo de Roma
On an evenin' in Roma
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Actually...
"I am only one and one's much too few"... It's a minute, ten seconds into the song...