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.
Start your engines
Can we get the chemicals in
Cause anything's better than this
Mix it up with vicadin
Cause anything's better than this
Little cuts on your wrist,
To try and get back the feeling
And no real friendships exists
That would be an understatement
Tell me the reason
(cannot show up)
Friends you knew before
(hello, how have you been?)
This is your season
(oh I give up)
Just show up
(I can't knock on your door)
Cause I keep bad company
I'm trouble
So go on stay away from me
I play the villain
You don't know where we've been
Lining em up again
Start your engines
Can we get the chemicals in
Old english is making me manic
I go to Suicide girls again
To check on anything I missed
The stitches don't even begin
To even stop up the bleeding
Can we get the chemicals in
Cause anything's better than this
The city is dying
(at least to me)
The city is dead now
(my kingdom for a friend)
Are you even trying
(to find some peace)
Don't need a reason
(I get some living in)
Cause I keep bad company
I'm in trouble
Last chance stay away from me
I play the villain
You don't know where we've been
Lining em up again
Keep saying this will end
I keep bad company
I'm in trouble
Keep saying this will end
Lining em up again
You know I'll never change
Lining em up again
Start your engines
Can we get the chemicals in
Cause anything's better than this
Mix it up with vicadin
Cause anything's better than this
Little cuts on your wrist,
To try and get back the feeling
And no real friendships exists
That would be an understatement
Tell me the reason
(cannot show up)
Friends you knew before
(hello, how have you been?)
This is your season
(oh I give up)
Just show up
(I can't knock on your door)
Cause I keep bad company
I'm trouble
So go on stay away from me
I play the villain
You don't know where we've been
Lining em up again
Start your engines
Can we get the chemicals in
Old english is making me manic
I go to Suicide girls again
To check on anything I missed
The stitches don't even begin
To even stop up the bleeding
Can we get the chemicals in
Cause anything's better than this
The city is dying
(at least to me)
The city is dead now
(my kingdom for a friend)
Are you even trying
(to find some peace)
Don't need a reason
(I get some living in)
Cause I keep bad company
I'm in trouble
Last chance stay away from me
I play the villain
You don't know where we've been
Lining em up again
Keep saying this will end
I keep bad company
I'm in trouble
Keep saying this will end
Lining em up again
You know I'll never change
Lining em up again
Start your engines
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Basically someone who thinks they are a lost cause.
Two of the verses are conversations and the rest are explanation of the persons lifestyle.
The city is dying (at least to me) The city is dead now (my kingdom for a friend) Are you even trying (to find some peace) Don't need a reason (I get some living in)
Basically someone offering a friend help and them coming back and saying, "don't bother, I'm so far gone that this is normal for me now and I'm not going to change"