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.
No sleep
No sleep until I'm done with finding the answer
Won't stop
Won't stop before I find a cure for this cancer
Sometimes I feel like going down I'm so disconnected
Somehow I know that I am haunted to be wanted
I've been watching, I've been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrow's all my life
In the shadows
In the shadows
They say that I must learn to kill before I can feel safe
But I, I'd rather kill myself than turn into their slave
Sometimes I feel that I should go and play with the thunder
Somehow I just don't want to stay and wait for a wonder
I've been watching, I've been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrow all my life
Lately, I've been walking, walking in circles
Watching, waiting for something
Feel me, touch me, heal me
Come take me higher
I've been watching, I've been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrow all my life
I've been watching, I've been waiting
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrow
Oh oh
Oh oh
In the shadows
Oh oh
Oh oh
In the shadows
I've been waiting
No sleep until I'm done with finding the answer
Won't stop
Won't stop before I find a cure for this cancer
Sometimes I feel like going down I'm so disconnected
Somehow I know that I am haunted to be wanted
I've been watching, I've been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrow's all my life
In the shadows
In the shadows
They say that I must learn to kill before I can feel safe
But I, I'd rather kill myself than turn into their slave
Sometimes I feel that I should go and play with the thunder
Somehow I just don't want to stay and wait for a wonder
I've been watching, I've been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrow all my life
Lately, I've been walking, walking in circles
Watching, waiting for something
Feel me, touch me, heal me
Come take me higher
I've been watching, I've been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrow all my life
I've been watching, I've been waiting
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrow
Oh oh
Oh oh
In the shadows
Oh oh
Oh oh
In the shadows
I've been waiting
Lyrics submitted by weerez_geek
In the Shadows Lyrics as written by Eero Heinonen Aki Hakala
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
I love this song, always have from the first time that I heard it. For me, it\'s basically about someone living an unfulfilled life (in the shadows) and hoping that it\'ll get better. I\'ve seen all three video versions (Finnish, European & US) and it\'s the US version that, for me, relates to the song. You have a maid, starting work in a "big house" in the 1800s & becoming disenchanted with the life she has to lead, until she is pulled through the mirror by Lauri, out of her "shadows". I can believe also that he wrote this song while touring. I\'ve read, in the past, how some artists just loathe the tediousness of touring (not performing but touring from city to city) and some get so depressed, that they just can\'t wait till they\'ve exhausted ALL their tour dates and can go home. Whether you like the Finnish, European or US version - it\'s STILL a great song and it STILL resonates to people all these years later.