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.
Call me out
You stayed inside
One you love
Is where you hide
Shot me down
As I flew by
Crash and burn
I think sometimes
You forget where the heart is
Answer no
To these questions
Let her go
Learn a lesson
It's not me
You're not listening
Now can't you see
Something's missing
You forget where the heart is
Take you away
From that empty apartment
You stay
And forget where the heart is
Someday
If ever you loved me
You'd say
It's okay
Waking up
From this nightmare
How's your life
What's it like there
Is it all
That you want it to be
Does it hurt
When you think about me
And how broken my heart is
Take you away
From that empty apartment
You stay
And forget where the heart is
Someday
If ever you loved me
You'd say it's okay
It's okay to be angry and never let go
It only gets harder the more that you know
When you get lonely if no one's around
You know that I'll catch you when you're falling down
We came together but you left alone
And I know how it feels to walk out on your own
Maybe someday I will see you again
And you'll look me in my eyes and call me your friend
Take you away from
That empty apartment
You stay and forget where the heart is
Someday
If ever you loved me
You'd say it's okay
It's okay, it's okay
You stayed inside
One you love
Is where you hide
Shot me down
As I flew by
Crash and burn
I think sometimes
You forget where the heart is
Answer no
To these questions
Let her go
Learn a lesson
It's not me
You're not listening
Now can't you see
Something's missing
You forget where the heart is
Take you away
From that empty apartment
You stay
And forget where the heart is
Someday
If ever you loved me
You'd say
It's okay
Waking up
From this nightmare
How's your life
What's it like there
Is it all
That you want it to be
Does it hurt
When you think about me
And how broken my heart is
Take you away
From that empty apartment
You stay
And forget where the heart is
Someday
If ever you loved me
You'd say it's okay
It's okay to be angry and never let go
It only gets harder the more that you know
When you get lonely if no one's around
You know that I'll catch you when you're falling down
We came together but you left alone
And I know how it feels to walk out on your own
Maybe someday I will see you again
And you'll look me in my eyes and call me your friend
Take you away from
That empty apartment
You stay and forget where the heart is
Someday
If ever you loved me
You'd say it's okay
It's okay, it's okay
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