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.
Your body may be gone, I'm gonna carry you in
In my head, in my heart, in my soul
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again
Well, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, don't think so
Well, that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me, you get away from me
Collected my belongings and I left the jail
Well, thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
I had to think awhile, I had to think awhile
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both grow old
Well, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I hope so
Well, that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me (you get away from me)
You get away from me
Collected my belongings and I left the jail
Well, thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
I had to think awhile (I had to think awhile)
I had to think awhile
Well, that is that and this is this
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
When the ocean met the sky (you missed)
You missed when time and life shook hands and said goodbye (you missed)
When the earth folded in on itself (you missed)
And said "good luck, for your sake I hope heaven and hell
(You missed, you missed) are really there
But I wouldn't hold my breath" (you missed, you missed)
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death? (You missed, you missed)
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
The more we move ahead the more we're stuck in rewind
Well, I don't mind I don't mind
How the hell could I mind? Huh
Well, that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me (you get away from me), you get away from me
Well, that is that and this is this
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
When the ocean met the sky (you missed, you missed)
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste the afterlife?
In my head, in my heart, in my soul
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again
Well, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, don't think so
Well, that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me, you get away from me
Collected my belongings and I left the jail
Well, thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
I had to think awhile, I had to think awhile
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both grow old
Well, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I hope so
Well, that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me (you get away from me)
You get away from me
Collected my belongings and I left the jail
Well, thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
I had to think awhile (I had to think awhile)
I had to think awhile
Well, that is that and this is this
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
When the ocean met the sky (you missed)
You missed when time and life shook hands and said goodbye (you missed)
When the earth folded in on itself (you missed)
And said "good luck, for your sake I hope heaven and hell
(You missed, you missed) are really there
But I wouldn't hold my breath" (you missed, you missed)
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death? (You missed, you missed)
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
The more we move ahead the more we're stuck in rewind
Well, I don't mind I don't mind
How the hell could I mind? Huh
Well, that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me (you get away from me), you get away from me
Well, that is that and this is this
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
When the ocean met the sky (you missed, you missed)
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste the afterlife?
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amazing song. above quote is my favorite too