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.
And so it seems you were to be king for a day
Don't let your dreams of blood hunger in the way
You know these streets, they lay there patiently
Awaiting your fall, like a phone call
And I see you made all the right decisions
I believe your head stone received the wrong inscription
Didn't read anything about how much we miss you at all
So with a broken stick, in dirt we scrawled
"Here lies our dreams come true-
Here lies Xs for eyes on me and you"
Want you know, I hope you got all you wanted
Want you to know that I took all I could take
it's been so hard to see and breathe through
all the smoke left in your wake (in your wake)
Now I see you made all the right decisions
I believe your head stone received the wrong inscription
Didn't read anything about how much we miss you at all
So with a broken stick in dirt, we scrawled
"Here lies our dreams come true-
Here lies Xs for eyes on me and you"
Want you know, I hope you got all you wanted
Want you to know that I took all I could take
It's been so hard to see and breathe through
All the smoke left in your wake (in your wake)
Don't let your dreams of blood hunger in the way
You know these streets, they lay there patiently
Awaiting your fall, like a phone call
And I see you made all the right decisions
I believe your head stone received the wrong inscription
Didn't read anything about how much we miss you at all
So with a broken stick, in dirt we scrawled
"Here lies our dreams come true-
Here lies Xs for eyes on me and you"
Want you know, I hope you got all you wanted
Want you to know that I took all I could take
it's been so hard to see and breathe through
all the smoke left in your wake (in your wake)
Now I see you made all the right decisions
I believe your head stone received the wrong inscription
Didn't read anything about how much we miss you at all
So with a broken stick in dirt, we scrawled
"Here lies our dreams come true-
Here lies Xs for eyes on me and you"
Want you know, I hope you got all you wanted
Want you to know that I took all I could take
It's been so hard to see and breathe through
All the smoke left in your wake (in your wake)
Lyrics submitted by duh, kansas
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matt skiba is god. dashboard, chris connelly, bright eyes (connor oberst). these are some of the top lyricists out there, and none of them can top skiba. any alkaline tiro song is a stroke of genius and this split only further reminds it. matt skiba is a king, and he doesnt have a bvad voice either.