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.
Did you know it was all going to go so wrong for you?
And did you see it was all going to be so right for me?
Why did we tell you then
You were always the golden boy then
And that you'd never lose that light in your eyes?
Hey you, did you ever realize what you'd become?
And did you see that it wasn't only me, you were running from?
Did you know all the time but it never bothered you anyway?
Leading the blind while I stared out the steel in your eyes
The rain fell slow, down on all the roofs of uncertainty
I thought of you and the years and all the sadness fell away from me
And did you know? (And did you know?)
I never thought that you'd lose that light in your eyes
And did you see it was all going to be so right for me?
Why did we tell you then
You were always the golden boy then
And that you'd never lose that light in your eyes?
Hey you, did you ever realize what you'd become?
And did you see that it wasn't only me, you were running from?
Did you know all the time but it never bothered you anyway?
Leading the blind while I stared out the steel in your eyes
The rain fell slow, down on all the roofs of uncertainty
I thought of you and the years and all the sadness fell away from me
And did you know? (And did you know?)
I never thought that you'd lose that light in your eyes
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Poles Apart Lyrics as written by Nick Laird-clowes Dave Gilmour
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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Definitely what's been mentioned before, first half about Barret, his golden attributes and importance to the band and after he was gone, an enduring source for inspiration. Second, obviously he's singing out to Waters. I love this song in that it brings an imensely deep emotional closure to what seems decades of brokenness between Gilmour and Waters. This is my favorite Pink Floyd song of all time, and it didn't take many listens or other's opinions to get what this song was intended for. Plus there is the amazing quality that this song can apply to many people and things, really: using that strong emotion as a foundation. The guitar solo melts anything it touches, also.