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.
I met you before the fall of Rome
And I begged you to let me take you home
You were wrong, I was right
You said goodbye, I said goodnight
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
I knew you before the west was won
And I heard you say the past
Was much more fun
You go your way, I go mine
But I'll see you next time
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
If I put my fingers here, and if I say
"I love you, dear"
And if I play the same three chords
Will you just yawn and say
"Ah, I hate it"
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
Alone and bored on a thirtieth-century night
Will I see you on The Price Is Right?
Will I cry? Will I smile?
As you run down the aisle?
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
And I begged you to let me take you home
You were wrong, I was right
You said goodbye, I said goodnight
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
I knew you before the west was won
And I heard you say the past
Was much more fun
You go your way, I go mine
But I'll see you next time
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
If I put my fingers here, and if I say
"I love you, dear"
And if I play the same three chords
Will you just yawn and say
"Ah, I hate it"
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
Alone and bored on a thirtieth-century night
Will I see you on The Price Is Right?
Will I cry? Will I smile?
As you run down the aisle?
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done
(Woo-woo-woo)
It's all been done before
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This is the best interpretation in my opinion.