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.
mr. lazy nearly set my arm on fire
when he touched my sleeve with a heated wire
and dave will tell you:
if he hadn't seen karen in her summer dress
he might have missed, i can't say i blame him, i guess.
when he's around her, he acts so silly.
but i never dreamt he'd try to kill me
and dave will tell you:
she's a pretty girl a
nd when she's around his mind's awhirl.
but that's no excuse, it makes me want to hurl.
and dave will tell you:
i passed his class
in fact i got an A.
i guess he just felt bad about that stupid day.
when he touched my sleeve with a heated wire
and dave will tell you:
if he hadn't seen karen in her summer dress
he might have missed, i can't say i blame him, i guess.
when he's around her, he acts so silly.
but i never dreamt he'd try to kill me
and dave will tell you:
she's a pretty girl a
nd when she's around his mind's awhirl.
but that's no excuse, it makes me want to hurl.
and dave will tell you:
i passed his class
in fact i got an A.
i guess he just felt bad about that stupid day.
Lyrics submitted by rustedhope
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After listening to this song for nearly 10 years, I actually studied the lyrics, and this sh*t's hilarious!
This seems too obscure to make up, so I'm guessing it's a true story.
Seems like one of his teachers got distracted by a fine lolita in class (Karen) and nearly set him on fire.
The fact that they turned this into a song is genius. I love it.
Mr. Lazo taught physics at Nazareth High where these fellas went to school. nazarethasd.k12.pa.us/cms/lib/PA01000243/Centricity/Domain/13/EaglesViewSummer06web.pdf
He's on page 4.