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.
One by one, ticking time bombs won
It's not the secrets of the government
That's keeping you dumb
Oh, it's the other way around, wait
What's that sound?
One by one, baby, here they come
He wants it easy, he want it relaxed
Said, "I can do a lot of things, but I can't do that"
Two steps forward, then three steps back, alright
Won't you take a walk outside? Oh, no
Can't you find some other guy? Oh, no
One-nine-six-nine, what's that sound? Oh, no
Keeping down the underground, oh, no
The end has no end, the end has no end
The end has no end, the end has no end
He want it easy, he want it relaxed
Said, "I can do a lot of things, but I can't do that"
Two steps forward then three steps back, it won't be easy
Won't you take a walk outside? Oh, no
Can't you find another guy? Oh, no
One-nine-six-three, what's that sound? Oh, no
Keeping down the underground, oh, no
The end has no end, the end has no end
The end has no end, the end has no end
The end has no end, the end has no end
The end has no end, the end has no end
It's not the secrets of the government
That's keeping you dumb
Oh, it's the other way around, wait
What's that sound?
One by one, baby, here they come
He wants it easy, he want it relaxed
Said, "I can do a lot of things, but I can't do that"
Two steps forward, then three steps back, alright
Won't you take a walk outside? Oh, no
Can't you find some other guy? Oh, no
One-nine-six-nine, what's that sound? Oh, no
Keeping down the underground, oh, no
The end has no end, the end has no end
The end has no end, the end has no end
He want it easy, he want it relaxed
Said, "I can do a lot of things, but I can't do that"
Two steps forward then three steps back, it won't be easy
Won't you take a walk outside? Oh, no
Can't you find another guy? Oh, no
One-nine-six-three, what's that sound? Oh, no
Keeping down the underground, oh, no
The end has no end, the end has no end
The end has no end, the end has no end
The end has no end, the end has no end
The end has no end, the end has no end
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Yeah, Bloc Party, this song was reeally amazing live, one of my favourites they done! It is a truly amazing song.