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.
I was stumbling into battle
I was walking into walls
'Till I walked myself to Peter
And I let my shadows fall.
He's a boy who never ages.
Rides a goat around the lake
He's a friend who never falters
To change my circling fate.
He said dance across the battle
But punch straight through that wall
Though your knuckles may be bleeding
They'll be healed before the fall.
After war comes peace
After peace comes war
But remember
If it weren't for fighting.
We'd be fighting for ever more
I was walking into walls
'Till I walked myself to Peter
And I let my shadows fall.
He's a boy who never ages.
Rides a goat around the lake
He's a friend who never falters
To change my circling fate.
He said dance across the battle
But punch straight through that wall
Though your knuckles may be bleeding
They'll be healed before the fall.
After war comes peace
After peace comes war
But remember
If it weren't for fighting.
We'd be fighting for ever more
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I love this song. It's so light and folky.