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.
When the french maids cigarette turns
Burns like a boiling tapeworm
(That was really something baby,
That was really something baby)
When the chandeleers shatter,
Your guest's gowns turn to tatters, the portraits just chatter
(That was really something baby,
That was really something baby)
Can you feel your sweat beading porcelin?
Your skeleton outgrowing it's skin?
It's the pinball masquerade....
Oh Oh Oh I saw the curtains of hair,
Oh Oh Oh I saw my fingers tear.
They said "we are the six nightmares (oh yeah)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah).
Oh Oh Oh I saw the face of a girl strapped to a poison pear she said:
"We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)"
I saw a millionaire eat his shadow,
I saw a water clock beat a widow
They said if one man's life is the sum of something
I want to see your fears materializing!"
Where are the six nightmares at this costume bash?
Open your throat look in the raw gash!
You hold each other by well groomed hands,
Mumbling prayers to a neglected jesus.
The matradees quiver as they watch you shiver as the mask
And the mouth knit into each other.
Our laughter was deafining but our lips
But our lips but our lips were trembling.
Now the lady with the peacock mask,
Is writhing around in broken monicle glass,
Imprisoned like a beetle laying on it's back,
And the man striped up and clawed calico like a cat,
Is trapped forever looking like that.
"All your luxury, all your well hidden trash,
All your empty wine bottles disguised as class,
All the bastard children you pay off,
All the money it takes for you to get off.
"May I have this dance?"
The dark dealer takes your hands...
All your memories all your forgotten plans/one night stands;
They are the six nightmares at the masquerade.
Oh Oh Oh I saw the mirrors cringe
Oh Oh Oh the choir voices bend
Oh Oh Oh the costume in my skin...they said
"We are the six nightmares (oh yeah!)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)"
Burns like a boiling tapeworm
(That was really something baby,
That was really something baby)
When the chandeleers shatter,
Your guest's gowns turn to tatters, the portraits just chatter
(That was really something baby,
That was really something baby)
Can you feel your sweat beading porcelin?
Your skeleton outgrowing it's skin?
It's the pinball masquerade....
Oh Oh Oh I saw the curtains of hair,
Oh Oh Oh I saw my fingers tear.
They said "we are the six nightmares (oh yeah)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah).
Oh Oh Oh I saw the face of a girl strapped to a poison pear she said:
"We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)"
I saw a millionaire eat his shadow,
I saw a water clock beat a widow
They said if one man's life is the sum of something
I want to see your fears materializing!"
Where are the six nightmares at this costume bash?
Open your throat look in the raw gash!
You hold each other by well groomed hands,
Mumbling prayers to a neglected jesus.
The matradees quiver as they watch you shiver as the mask
And the mouth knit into each other.
Our laughter was deafining but our lips
But our lips but our lips were trembling.
Now the lady with the peacock mask,
Is writhing around in broken monicle glass,
Imprisoned like a beetle laying on it's back,
And the man striped up and clawed calico like a cat,
Is trapped forever looking like that.
"All your luxury, all your well hidden trash,
All your empty wine bottles disguised as class,
All the bastard children you pay off,
All the money it takes for you to get off.
"May I have this dance?"
The dark dealer takes your hands...
All your memories all your forgotten plans/one night stands;
They are the six nightmares at the masquerade.
Oh Oh Oh I saw the mirrors cringe
Oh Oh Oh the choir voices bend
Oh Oh Oh the costume in my skin...they said
"We are the six nightmares (oh yeah!)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)"
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
i think this song is about your horrible insides and secrets coming out and fucking you over. hence all the mask metaphors and skeletons out growing skins and crap