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.
Come in my boat
A storm is rising / and the night is coming
Where do you want to go
So all alone / you are drifting away
Who will hold your hand
When it pulls you under
Where do you want you want to go
So boundless / the cold sea
Come in my boat
The wind of autumn / stiffens the sails
Now you are standing by the lantern
With tears in your face
The evening light chases the shadows away
Time stands still and it becomes autumn
Come in my boat
Yearning becomes / the helmsmen
Come in my boat
The best sailor / was I
Now you are standing by the lantern
With tears in your face
You take the fire from the candle
Time stands still and it becomes autumn
They only spoke of your mother
So merciless is only the night
In the end I'm left alone
The time stands still
And I am cold
A storm is rising / and the night is coming
Where do you want to go
So all alone / you are drifting away
Who will hold your hand
When it pulls you under
Where do you want you want to go
So boundless / the cold sea
Come in my boat
The wind of autumn / stiffens the sails
Now you are standing by the lantern
With tears in your face
The evening light chases the shadows away
Time stands still and it becomes autumn
Come in my boat
Yearning becomes / the helmsmen
Come in my boat
The best sailor / was I
Now you are standing by the lantern
With tears in your face
You take the fire from the candle
Time stands still and it becomes autumn
They only spoke of your mother
So merciless is only the night
In the end I'm left alone
The time stands still
And I am cold
Lyrics submitted by John M
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to me this song is about the voyage of life, and how people fear being alone and need a companion to accompany them.