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.
Who will save the warchild baby
Who controls the key?
The web we weave is thick and sordid
Fine by me
At times of war, we're all losers
There's no victory
We shoot and kill and kill your lover
Fine by me
Warchild, victim of political pride
Plant the seed, territorial greed
Mind the warchild, we should mind the warchild
I spent last winter in New York and came upon a man
He was sleeping on the streets and homeless
He said "I fought in Vietnam"
Beneath his shirt he wore his mark, he bore the mark of pride
A two inch deep incision, carved into his side
Warchild, victim of political pride
Plant the seed, territorial greed
Who controls the key?
The web we weave is thick and sordid
Fine by me
At times of war, we're all losers
There's no victory
We shoot and kill and kill your lover
Fine by me
Warchild, victim of political pride
Plant the seed, territorial greed
Mind the warchild, we should mind the warchild
I spent last winter in New York and came upon a man
He was sleeping on the streets and homeless
He said "I fought in Vietnam"
Beneath his shirt he wore his mark, he bore the mark of pride
A two inch deep incision, carved into his side
Warchild, victim of political pride
Plant the seed, territorial greed
Lyrics submitted by 3ssence
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@clovis-pepin - No, that was about a baby dying after a melting icicle fell on it. The murderer chose this method because the evidence would literally melt away. Trust me, I have this story on the highest authority.