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.
Lost in a lullaby
Side of the road
Melt in a memory
Slide in a solitude
Not 'til I can read by the moon
Am I going anywhere
Not 'til I can read by the moon
I blow you a kiss
It should reach you tomorrow
As it flies from the other side of the world
From my room in my fugitive motel
Somewhere in the dust bowl
Yeah it flies from the other side of the world
I'm tired, I said
You always look tired, she said
I'm admired, I said
You always look tired, she said
Not 'til I can read by the moon
I'm not going anywhere
Not 'til I can read by the moon
I blow you a kiss
It should reach you tomorrow
As it flies from the other side of the world
From my room in my fugitive motel
Somewhere in the dust bowl
Somewhere in the dust bowl
It flies from the other side of the world
The curtains stay closed
But everyone knows
You hear through the walls in this place
Cigarette holes for every lost soul
To give up the ghost in this place
Give me strength
Give me wings
Give me strength
Give me wings
I blow you a kiss
It should reach you tomorrow
Reach you tomorrow
It flies from the other side of the world
From my room in my fugitive motel
Somewhere in the dust bowl
Somewhere in the dust bowl
It flies from the other side of the world
The other side of the world
The other side of the world
(The other side of the world)
Side of the road
Melt in a memory
Slide in a solitude
Not 'til I can read by the moon
Am I going anywhere
Not 'til I can read by the moon
I blow you a kiss
It should reach you tomorrow
As it flies from the other side of the world
From my room in my fugitive motel
Somewhere in the dust bowl
Yeah it flies from the other side of the world
I'm tired, I said
You always look tired, she said
I'm admired, I said
You always look tired, she said
Not 'til I can read by the moon
I'm not going anywhere
Not 'til I can read by the moon
I blow you a kiss
It should reach you tomorrow
As it flies from the other side of the world
From my room in my fugitive motel
Somewhere in the dust bowl
Somewhere in the dust bowl
It flies from the other side of the world
The curtains stay closed
But everyone knows
You hear through the walls in this place
Cigarette holes for every lost soul
To give up the ghost in this place
Give me strength
Give me wings
Give me strength
Give me wings
I blow you a kiss
It should reach you tomorrow
Reach you tomorrow
It flies from the other side of the world
From my room in my fugitive motel
Somewhere in the dust bowl
Somewhere in the dust bowl
It flies from the other side of the world
The other side of the world
The other side of the world
(The other side of the world)
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Hmm... of course music is an art form so it always means something different to everyone. My mental picture was along the lines of what was read and contributed by cazzdevil. The "dustbowl" is a U.S. historic/geographical reference to the central plains circa 1930. "Not 'til can read by the moon" would seem to imply "laying low" for a period of time (until the lunar cycle reaches a full moon perhaps?). "Cigarette holes for every lost soul" referring to "killing time" during the wait. "To give up the ghost in this place", meeting with an ill-fated demise. "Give me strength, give me wings".. I hope I can hold out and that I go to heaven if I don't. I don't know if it was intentional, but the music has a carnival like "lilt" to it as well. Carnies always travel extensively, no doubt frequenting such motels. IMHO