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.
We strike first
And we're unrehearsed
Here we go again
To stage the greatest show on heaven and earth
Come on, get your money's worth
Don't want to live
(can't live)
Don't want to give
(can't give)
Don't want to be
(won't be)
E-M-P-I-R-E
Don't want to live
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E
We're comin' on fast
And we're built to last
We struggled once in 'Nam
Now we're glad to finally say
Those days have passed
Tell me how long can it last!
Don't want to live
(can't live)
Don't want to give
(can't give)
Don't want to be
(won't be)
E-M-P-I-R-E
Don't want to live
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E
We just started out
You don't need to be afraid
Yeah you deserve to be attained
And our breathing hearts burst
But even ten million souls
Marching in February couldn't stop the worst,
Couldn't reverse
Don't want to live
Don't want to give
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E
Don't want to live
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E
I can't live
If it isn't with you
And we're unrehearsed
Here we go again
To stage the greatest show on heaven and earth
Come on, get your money's worth
Don't want to live
(can't live)
Don't want to give
(can't give)
Don't want to be
(won't be)
E-M-P-I-R-E
Don't want to live
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E
We're comin' on fast
And we're built to last
We struggled once in 'Nam
Now we're glad to finally say
Those days have passed
Tell me how long can it last!
Don't want to live
(can't live)
Don't want to give
(can't give)
Don't want to be
(won't be)
E-M-P-I-R-E
Don't want to live
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E
We just started out
You don't need to be afraid
Yeah you deserve to be attained
And our breathing hearts burst
But even ten million souls
Marching in February couldn't stop the worst,
Couldn't reverse
Don't want to live
Don't want to give
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E
Don't want to live
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E
I can't live
If it isn't with you
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!
This is definately one of their darkest albums.
I love the "Two Minutes Hate" reference. The scary thing is that with the way the governments and media are presenting things it seems almost at times like such a policy has been implemented.