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.
Dear darling
Your mom, my friend
Left a message on my machine
She was frantic
Saying you were talking crazy
That you wanted to do away with yourself
Guess she thought I would be the perfect resort
Because we've had this inexplicable connection since our youth
And yes, they're in shock
They are panicked
You and your chronic
Them and their drama
You this embarrassment
Us in the middle of this delusion
If we were our bodies
If we were our futures
If we were our defenses
I'd be joining you
If we were our culture
If we were our leaders
If we were our denials
Id be joining you
I remember vividly a day years ago
We were camping
You knew more than you thought you should know
You said I don't want ever to be brainwashed
And you were mind boggling, you were intense
You were uncomfortable in your own skin
You were thirsty
But mostly you were beautiful
If we were our name tags
If we were our rejections
If we were our outcomes
I'd be joining you
If we were our indignities
If we were our successes
If we were our emotions
I'd be joining you
You and I, were like four year olds
We want to know why, and how come about everything
We want to reveal ourselves at will, and speak our minds
And never talk small talk and be intuitive
And question mightily, and find God my tortured beacon
We need to find like-minded companions
If we were their condemnations
If we were their projections
If we were our paranoias, I'd be joining you
If we were our incomes
If we were our obsessions
If we were our afflictions, Id be joining you
We need a reflection
We need a really good memory
Feel free to call me a little more often
Your mom, my friend
Left a message on my machine
She was frantic
Saying you were talking crazy
That you wanted to do away with yourself
Guess she thought I would be the perfect resort
Because we've had this inexplicable connection since our youth
And yes, they're in shock
They are panicked
You and your chronic
Them and their drama
You this embarrassment
Us in the middle of this delusion
If we were our bodies
If we were our futures
If we were our defenses
I'd be joining you
If we were our culture
If we were our leaders
If we were our denials
Id be joining you
I remember vividly a day years ago
We were camping
You knew more than you thought you should know
You said I don't want ever to be brainwashed
And you were mind boggling, you were intense
You were uncomfortable in your own skin
You were thirsty
But mostly you were beautiful
If we were our name tags
If we were our rejections
If we were our outcomes
I'd be joining you
If we were our indignities
If we were our successes
If we were our emotions
I'd be joining you
You and I, were like four year olds
We want to know why, and how come about everything
We want to reveal ourselves at will, and speak our minds
And never talk small talk and be intuitive
And question mightily, and find God my tortured beacon
We need to find like-minded companions
If we were their condemnations
If we were their projections
If we were our paranoias, I'd be joining you
If we were our incomes
If we were our obsessions
If we were our afflictions, Id be joining you
We need a reflection
We need a really good memory
Feel free to call me a little more often
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In my opinion the mother of a friend of her calls her but its her friend, not the daughter of her friend who wants to commit suicide. --You and I we're like 4 year olds --
With the rest i agree...