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.
Out in the prairie the bison dared to roam
The crying of a lone shot claimed they're forever gone
High in the breezing winds an eagle dared to fly
For the white man's sake the covenant was just a lie
Out in the flowing streams the beaver dared to build
The never ending ignorance the paleface's guilt
A single tent was left lonesome in the woods
When the cannons spoke the words
Murderers took off the hoods
[Chorus]
For all times rise
Cheyenne spirit rise
By the grace of all your wisdom
In the hunting grounds it flies
Chase the track and ride free
Eternal unity
Let the flutes play for a last time
Ban the white man's tyranny
And they came riding with their hate
And marching with their greed
External territories
Served their senseless need
But they stood tall in their own fate
They knew their bloody way
Along the line of fire
Into the grand decay
[Chorus]
The crying of a lone shot claimed they're forever gone
High in the breezing winds an eagle dared to fly
For the white man's sake the covenant was just a lie
Out in the flowing streams the beaver dared to build
The never ending ignorance the paleface's guilt
A single tent was left lonesome in the woods
When the cannons spoke the words
Murderers took off the hoods
[Chorus]
For all times rise
Cheyenne spirit rise
By the grace of all your wisdom
In the hunting grounds it flies
Chase the track and ride free
Eternal unity
Let the flutes play for a last time
Ban the white man's tyranny
And they came riding with their hate
And marching with their greed
External territories
Served their senseless need
But they stood tall in their own fate
They knew their bloody way
Along the line of fire
Into the grand decay
[Chorus]
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