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.
Old Red eyes is back
Red from the night before the night before
Walked into the wrong bar walked into a door
Old Red's in town
And sitting late at night he doesn't make a sound
Just adding to the wrinkles on his deathly frown
They're only red from all the tears that I should've shed
They're only red from all the women that I could've wed
So when you look into these eyes I hope you realize
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
Listen up Old Red
You never listened to a word the doctor said
He told you if you drank another you'd be dead
Old Red Eyes is back
His shoulders ache all over and his brain is sore
He pours a drink and listens to his body thaw
They're only red from all the thoughts unused inside my head
They're only red from all the things I could have done instead
So when you look into these eyes I hope you realize
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
Blue is a street without an end
Red is the color of my hell
Blue is a greeting from a friend
Red is the color of farewell
Old Red he died
And every single landlord in the district cried
An empty bottle of whiskey laying by his side
A lazy little tear running from each eye
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
Red from the night before the night before
Walked into the wrong bar walked into a door
Old Red's in town
And sitting late at night he doesn't make a sound
Just adding to the wrinkles on his deathly frown
They're only red from all the tears that I should've shed
They're only red from all the women that I could've wed
So when you look into these eyes I hope you realize
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
Listen up Old Red
You never listened to a word the doctor said
He told you if you drank another you'd be dead
Old Red Eyes is back
His shoulders ache all over and his brain is sore
He pours a drink and listens to his body thaw
They're only red from all the thoughts unused inside my head
They're only red from all the things I could have done instead
So when you look into these eyes I hope you realize
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
Blue is a street without an end
Red is the color of my hell
Blue is a greeting from a friend
Red is the color of farewell
Old Red he died
And every single landlord in the district cried
An empty bottle of whiskey laying by his side
A lazy little tear running from each eye
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
They could never be blue
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these lyrics submitted are completely wrong, here are the correct lyrics: Old Red eyes is back Red from the night before the night before Walked into the wrong bar walked into a door Old Red's in town And sitting late at night he doesn't make a sound Just adding to the wrinkles on his deathly frown
They're only red from all the tears that I should've shed They're only red from all the women that I could've wed So when you look into these eyes I hope you realise They could never be blue They could never be blue They could never be blue They could never be blue
Listen up Old Red You never listened to a word the doctor said He told you if you drank another you'd be dead
Old Red Eyes is back His shoulders ache all over and his brain is sore He pours a drink and listens to his body thaw
They're only red from all the thoughts unused inside my head They're only red from all the things I could have done instead So when you look into these eyes I hope you realise They could never be blue They could never be blue They could never be blue They could never be blue
Blue is a street without an end Red is the colour of my hell Blue is a greeting from a friend Red is the colour of farewell
Old Red he died And every single landlord in the district cried An empty bottle of whisky laying by his side A lazy little tear running from each eye They could never be blue They could never be blue They could never be blue They could never be blue
if you don't believe me then go to beautifulsouth.co.uk and look on the albums section and check out the lyrics.