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.
I reach across to the other side
To make contact with you
Though in slumber you fill my dreams
And I make contact with you
Don't ask me why I'm crossing over
Oh, crossing over....
I never got to really know you
The way I want to now
So many things I didn't tell you
I wanna tell you now
Tell me why, oh Lord, you're crossing over
(I gotta come back to see your face)
Oh, crossing over
(I wanna hear you call my name, feel your touch)
Reaching out, reaching out
(Hear your voice again)
(To hear your voice again)
Crossing over
(To feel your touch)
Reaching out
(To feel you)
Crossing over
(To feel)
Reaching out, reaching out
Crossing over
To make contact with you
Though in slumber you fill my dreams
And I make contact with you
Don't ask me why I'm crossing over
Oh, crossing over....
I never got to really know you
The way I want to now
So many things I didn't tell you
I wanna tell you now
Tell me why, oh Lord, you're crossing over
(I gotta come back to see your face)
Oh, crossing over
(I wanna hear you call my name, feel your touch)
Reaching out, reaching out
(Hear your voice again)
(To hear your voice again)
Crossing over
(To feel your touch)
Reaching out
(To feel you)
Crossing over
(To feel)
Reaching out, reaching out
Crossing over
Lyrics submitted by UseYourIllusion
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I think this song is about missing a loved one who has died. That's what it sounds like from the most of the lyrics.