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.
It was familiar to me, the smoke too thick to breathe.
The tile floors glistened; I slowly stirred my drink.
And when you started to sing, you spoke with broken speech
That I could not understand, and then you grabbed me tightly.
I won't let go, I won't let go. Even if you say so, oh no.
I've tried and tried with no results. I won't let go, I won't let go.
He then played every song from nineteen ninety three.
The crowd applauded as he curtsied bashfully.
Your eyelashes tickled my neck with every nervous blink,
And it was perfect until the telephone started
Ringing ringing ringing ringing ringing off...
The tile floors glistened; I slowly stirred my drink.
And when you started to sing, you spoke with broken speech
That I could not understand, and then you grabbed me tightly.
I won't let go, I won't let go. Even if you say so, oh no.
I've tried and tried with no results. I won't let go, I won't let go.
He then played every song from nineteen ninety three.
The crowd applauded as he curtsied bashfully.
Your eyelashes tickled my neck with every nervous blink,
And it was perfect until the telephone started
Ringing ringing ringing ringing ringing off...
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is it evan dando (of the lemonheads) & chan marshall (of cat power)?