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.
Can you break hearts
Can hearts be spoken?
Can you torture hearts
Can hearts be stolen?
They want my heart on the right side
But then I look below
It just beats left on the left
Can hearts sing
Can a heart spring
Can hearts be true
Can a heart be made of stone
They want my heart on the right side
But then I look below
It just beats on the left
Left two three four left
Can you question hearts
To carry a kid under them
Can you give it all up
To think with your heart
They want my heart on the right side
But I look below
It just beats in the left breast
As the envier one knew badly
Left two three four left
Can hearts be spoken?
Can you torture hearts
Can hearts be stolen?
They want my heart on the right side
But then I look below
It just beats left on the left
Can hearts sing
Can a heart spring
Can hearts be true
Can a heart be made of stone
They want my heart on the right side
But then I look below
It just beats on the left
Left two three four left
Can you question hearts
To carry a kid under them
Can you give it all up
To think with your heart
They want my heart on the right side
But I look below
It just beats in the left breast
As the envier one knew badly
Left two three four left
Lyrics submitted by John M
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Actually I would have loved if they were right winged. Finally a right winged rock band, instead of all those left winged ones. Pity they aren't