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.
6 o'clock in the morning,
I feel pretty good,
So I dropped in to the luxury of the Lord;
Fighting dragons and crossing swords
With the people against the hoards
Who came to conquer.
Seven o'clock in the morning,
Here it comes; I taste the warning,
And I'm so amazed I'm here today,
Seeing things so clear this way.
In the car on my way to Stonehenge.
I'm flying in Winchester Cathedral,
Sunlight pouring through the break of day.
Stumbled through the gate and into the chamber.
There's a lady setting flowers on the table, covered lace,
And a cleaner in the distance finds a cobweb on her face,
And a feeling deep inside of me
Tells me this can't be the place.
I'm flying in Winchester Cathedral;
All religion has to have its day.
Expressions on the face of the saviour
Made me say, I can't stay.
Open up the gates of the church
And let me out of here.
Too many people have lied in the name of Christ
For anyone to heed the call.
Too many people have died in the name of Christ
That I can't believe at all.
And now I'm standing on the grave of a soldier that died in 1799.
And the day he died, it was a birthday,
And I noticed it was mine.
And my head didn't know just who I was,
And I went spinning back in time.
And I am high upon the altar,
High upon the altar,
High!
I'm flying in Winchester Cathedral;
It's hard enough to drink the wine.
The air inside just hangs in illusion,
But, given time, I'll be fine.
I'll be fine.
Open up the gates of the curch and let me out of here.
Too many people have lied in the name of Christ
For anyone to heed the call.
So many people have died in the name of Christ
That I can't believe it all.
And now I'm standing on the grave of a soldier that died in 1799.
And the day he died, it was a birthday,
And I noticed it was mine.
And my head didn't know just who I was,
And I went spinning back in time.
And I am high upon the altar,
High upon the altar,
High!
I feel pretty good,
So I dropped in to the luxury of the Lord;
Fighting dragons and crossing swords
With the people against the hoards
Who came to conquer.
Seven o'clock in the morning,
Here it comes; I taste the warning,
And I'm so amazed I'm here today,
Seeing things so clear this way.
In the car on my way to Stonehenge.
I'm flying in Winchester Cathedral,
Sunlight pouring through the break of day.
Stumbled through the gate and into the chamber.
There's a lady setting flowers on the table, covered lace,
And a cleaner in the distance finds a cobweb on her face,
And a feeling deep inside of me
Tells me this can't be the place.
I'm flying in Winchester Cathedral;
All religion has to have its day.
Expressions on the face of the saviour
Made me say, I can't stay.
Open up the gates of the church
And let me out of here.
Too many people have lied in the name of Christ
For anyone to heed the call.
Too many people have died in the name of Christ
That I can't believe at all.
And now I'm standing on the grave of a soldier that died in 1799.
And the day he died, it was a birthday,
And I noticed it was mine.
And my head didn't know just who I was,
And I went spinning back in time.
And I am high upon the altar,
High upon the altar,
High!
I'm flying in Winchester Cathedral;
It's hard enough to drink the wine.
The air inside just hangs in illusion,
But, given time, I'll be fine.
I'll be fine.
Open up the gates of the curch and let me out of here.
Too many people have lied in the name of Christ
For anyone to heed the call.
So many people have died in the name of Christ
That I can't believe it all.
And now I'm standing on the grave of a soldier that died in 1799.
And the day he died, it was a birthday,
And I noticed it was mine.
And my head didn't know just who I was,
And I went spinning back in time.
And I am high upon the altar,
High upon the altar,
High!
Lyrics submitted by ZinbobDan
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