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.
Does anybody feel this way
Does anybody feel like I do
Does anybody feel this way
Does anybody feel like I do
I built a wall
It stretched one thousand miles
Set it off
(Massacre)
It's holding up the roof
Breast feed your heart
Set it off
I saw a distant port
With no water to support
Burning the bridge between
Does anybody feel this way
Does anybody feel like I do
Does anybody feel this way
Does anybody feel like I do
Never content nor satisfied
Tensions of self
The massacre changed history
Borderline paranoia
Yelling at their own rights
Set it off
Does anybody feel this way
Does anybody feel like I do
Though half of me is gone
The lonesome heart is there
I cannot find the other half
I cannot find the other half
I cannot find the other half
I cannot find the other half
Does anybody feel like I do
Does anybody feel this way
Does anybody feel like I do
I built a wall
It stretched one thousand miles
Set it off
(Massacre)
It's holding up the roof
Breast feed your heart
Set it off
I saw a distant port
With no water to support
Burning the bridge between
Does anybody feel this way
Does anybody feel like I do
Does anybody feel this way
Does anybody feel like I do
Never content nor satisfied
Tensions of self
The massacre changed history
Borderline paranoia
Yelling at their own rights
Set it off
Does anybody feel this way
Does anybody feel like I do
Though half of me is gone
The lonesome heart is there
I cannot find the other half
I cannot find the other half
I cannot find the other half
I cannot find the other half
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i believe this song is about the end of a relationship and the start of a new one. i know that sounds really corny, but i think there is some evidence of it. one of the theories behind "el cielo" to me is that there is a circle of relationships that can relate to the circle of life. the juxtaposition of "sorry but it's over" talking about the end of a relationship and "convalescent" talking about dying affirms this. this song represents the death of a relationship, but is optimistic about the beginning of a new one. "though half of me is gone, the lonesome part is left. i cannot find the other half"... after that, it sounds as if the band dropped all their instruments all of the sudden, representing death. all that's left are beautiful angelic voices, bringing the dead body up to "the sky", to prepare the start of anew, a new relationship, but shown by dredg as a new life.
absolutely awesome theories. kick ass!