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.
What's it gonna take
To slow us down
To let the silence spin us around?
What's it gonna take
To drop this town?
We've been spinning at the speed of sound.
Stepping out of those convenience stores
What could we want but more more more?
From the third world
To the corporate core
We are a symphony of modern humanity
If we're adding to the noise
Turn off this song
If we're adding to the noise
Turn off your stereo, stereo, stereo
I don't know
What they're gonna think of next
Genetic engineers of the most high tech
A couple new ways
To fall into debt
I'm a nervous wreck but I'll bet
That that T.V. set
Tells us what we've wanted to hear
But none of these sound bites
Are coming in clear
From the third world to the corporate ear
We are the symphony of modern humanity.
To slow us down
To let the silence spin us around?
What's it gonna take
To drop this town?
We've been spinning at the speed of sound.
Stepping out of those convenience stores
What could we want but more more more?
From the third world
To the corporate core
We are a symphony of modern humanity
If we're adding to the noise
Turn off this song
If we're adding to the noise
Turn off your stereo, stereo, stereo
I don't know
What they're gonna think of next
Genetic engineers of the most high tech
A couple new ways
To fall into debt
I'm a nervous wreck but I'll bet
That that T.V. set
Tells us what we've wanted to hear
But none of these sound bites
Are coming in clear
From the third world to the corporate ear
We are the symphony of modern humanity.
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I think the song basically talks about how we've complicated everything so much (the 'noise': stereos, videos, radios, genetic engineering, etc.) rather than just taking it slow and easy and sticking to the basics of life.