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.
There's no prayer I could say
No advice I could take
No pill that would make me feel better
There's no fountain to seek
No cup I could drink
I know of nothing that ever grew younger
But the universe, it must go on forever
Just like two mirrors that are facing each other
It's reality upon illusion over and over
Until you can't tell the difference
They both just blend together
And I just put each day in a box
On a calendar, winter to summer
And I'll go walking in that same circle
For as long as I can remember
I just keep hoping that someone
Would make me a better offer
Because I know the end that we see from our balcony
Is barely the beginning
So I'm up on the fence and I'm still not convinced
Can't decide which side looks greener
So I just stay where I am, remain indifferent
What happens, what's happened, it's easier
I'll go ahead and drown myself
In the fluids of another
Yeah, my woman to me
Was as pure and essential as water
And so she looked like me for a while
But she does no longer because she took the shape
Of whatever it was that held her
She killed the fear in my heart
But our love also got murdered
She said, "My child, you can no longer sing of that fever
Because it's selfish and you are not selfish
You must get stronger
So I know when your lover leaves
I guess all you can be is forgiving"
No advice I could take
No pill that would make me feel better
There's no fountain to seek
No cup I could drink
I know of nothing that ever grew younger
But the universe, it must go on forever
Just like two mirrors that are facing each other
It's reality upon illusion over and over
Until you can't tell the difference
They both just blend together
And I just put each day in a box
On a calendar, winter to summer
And I'll go walking in that same circle
For as long as I can remember
I just keep hoping that someone
Would make me a better offer
Because I know the end that we see from our balcony
Is barely the beginning
So I'm up on the fence and I'm still not convinced
Can't decide which side looks greener
So I just stay where I am, remain indifferent
What happens, what's happened, it's easier
I'll go ahead and drown myself
In the fluids of another
Yeah, my woman to me
Was as pure and essential as water
And so she looked like me for a while
But she does no longer because she took the shape
Of whatever it was that held her
She killed the fear in my heart
But our love also got murdered
She said, "My child, you can no longer sing of that fever
Because it's selfish and you are not selfish
You must get stronger
So I know when your lover leaves
I guess all you can be is forgiving"
Lyrics submitted by keely
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do you still happen to have that website where you got the live version? if you do would you mind posting it or sending it to me? i would love to hear it.