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.
Ask why
You don't wanna talk about the things that make you cry
You're never really sure about the reasons all the while
Same thing
Except the main intention, yours wasn't meant to cut it
And that look upon your face can only mean one thing
And that is
You hate the things that I'm thinking
The things read in my eyes
We open up the box and let the demons in the skies
Yeah the skies
But I'm learning all about my life
Cause I read it on the front page on the paper
The boy on the bike has delivered my life
And along with it comes my alibies
And I'm screaming at the side of the page
In the corner as I read it I drop my coffee
The dates not today or the day before, its the next,
That's what kills me
I have no choice
I can't remember all the things you said
I can't remember all the times that you turn that perfect smile
Upside down and then
Spun it all around
In the office that I animate
A senior guy but I can't relate
To words from happy songs
A title of lover boy who was a little bit empty
Blind man
I wish my limbs were broken
I'd have hands to heal
I can't wake up and I can't sleep
So just crash
Just crash
In the time that it took the flashing van to split the road
I actually cared about its destination
The car with the cans on the back and the sign just bearing my expectation
Pull to the side possibly for like everyone else ask the simplest questions
Was it the wife of a lover or a child of a mother or some hated politician
And I remember reading all about it in the morning
Yes one awful sad misfortune
The light had turned red but the witnesses said
His eyes were on the girl beside him
So take your time
Rest your mind
And let others creep into your soul now
In my life
There are few
opportunities to
Find release
And justify some peace
Justify some
Justify some
Justify some funn release
Justify some peace
You don't wanna talk about the things that make you cry
You're never really sure about the reasons all the while
Same thing
Except the main intention, yours wasn't meant to cut it
And that look upon your face can only mean one thing
And that is
You hate the things that I'm thinking
The things read in my eyes
We open up the box and let the demons in the skies
Yeah the skies
But I'm learning all about my life
Cause I read it on the front page on the paper
The boy on the bike has delivered my life
And along with it comes my alibies
And I'm screaming at the side of the page
In the corner as I read it I drop my coffee
The dates not today or the day before, its the next,
That's what kills me
I have no choice
I can't remember all the things you said
I can't remember all the times that you turn that perfect smile
Upside down and then
Spun it all around
In the office that I animate
A senior guy but I can't relate
To words from happy songs
A title of lover boy who was a little bit empty
Blind man
I wish my limbs were broken
I'd have hands to heal
I can't wake up and I can't sleep
So just crash
Just crash
In the time that it took the flashing van to split the road
I actually cared about its destination
The car with the cans on the back and the sign just bearing my expectation
Pull to the side possibly for like everyone else ask the simplest questions
Was it the wife of a lover or a child of a mother or some hated politician
And I remember reading all about it in the morning
Yes one awful sad misfortune
The light had turned red but the witnesses said
His eyes were on the girl beside him
So take your time
Rest your mind
And let others creep into your soul now
In my life
There are few
opportunities to
Find release
And justify some peace
Justify some
Justify some
Justify some funn release
Justify some peace
Lyrics submitted by TSL_Finch
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The lyrics should actually be:
Instead of:
"Ask why You don't wanna talk about the things that make you cry You're never really sure about the reasons all the while Same thing Except the main intention, yours wasn't meant to cut it"
They SOULD be:
I ask why you don't want to talk about the things that make you cry I'm never really sure about the reasons or the why Same thing, except the main intentions, yours, was meant to cut"
ALSO:
"And I'm screaming at the side of the page"
SHOULD be:
"And I'm screaming at the sight of the print in the corner"
AND....
"A senior guy but I can't relate" SHOULD be:
"I've seen you cry but I can't relate"
AND....
"The car with the cans on the back and the sign just bearing my expectation Pull to the side possibly for like everyone else ask the simplest questions "
SHOULD be:
"The car with the cans on the back and the sign just buried my expectation It pulled to the side pausing briefly like every one else asked the simplest questions"
Anywho... one of my fav's on the album :)