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.
Stay with me
You're the one that I need
You make the hardest things
Seem easy
Keep my heart
Somewhere drugs don't go
Where the sun shines low
Always keep me close
If only you could see
The stranger next to me
You promise, you promise that you're done
But I can't tell you from the drugs
Don't let go
Dig a great big hole
Down an endless hole
We'll both go
You're so blind
You can't save me this time
Hope comes from inside
And I feel so low tonight
If only you could see
The stranger next to me
You promise, you promise that you're done
But I can't tell you from the drugs
I wish that you could see
This face in front of me
You're sorry, you swear it, you're done
But I can't tell you from the drugs
(Oh)
(Oh)
(Oh)
(Oh)
(Take me) I need your help
(So far away) to pull me up, take the pain
(Take me) out from me
(So far away) out from me
(Take me) if only you could see (I need your help)
(So far away) the stranger next to me (to pull me up take the pain)
(Take me) you promise, you promise that you're done (out from me)
(So far away) but I can't tell you from the drugs (out from me)
(Take me) I wish that you could see (I need your help)
(So far away) this face in front of me (to pull me up take the pain)
(Take me) you're sorry, you swear it, you're done (out from me)
(So far away) but I can't tell you from the drugs (out from me)
Keep my heart
Somewhere drugs don't go
Where the sun shines low
Always keep me close
You're the one that I need
You make the hardest things
Seem easy
Keep my heart
Somewhere drugs don't go
Where the sun shines low
Always keep me close
If only you could see
The stranger next to me
You promise, you promise that you're done
But I can't tell you from the drugs
Don't let go
Dig a great big hole
Down an endless hole
We'll both go
You're so blind
You can't save me this time
Hope comes from inside
And I feel so low tonight
If only you could see
The stranger next to me
You promise, you promise that you're done
But I can't tell you from the drugs
I wish that you could see
This face in front of me
You're sorry, you swear it, you're done
But I can't tell you from the drugs
(Oh)
(Oh)
(Oh)
(Oh)
(Take me) I need your help
(So far away) to pull me up, take the pain
(Take me) out from me
(So far away) out from me
(Take me) if only you could see (I need your help)
(So far away) the stranger next to me (to pull me up take the pain)
(Take me) you promise, you promise that you're done (out from me)
(So far away) but I can't tell you from the drugs (out from me)
(Take me) I wish that you could see (I need your help)
(So far away) this face in front of me (to pull me up take the pain)
(Take me) you're sorry, you swear it, you're done (out from me)
(So far away) but I can't tell you from the drugs (out from me)
Keep my heart
Somewhere drugs don't go
Where the sun shines low
Always keep me close
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Coleridge said "to dissect is to destroy" so I'll just comment on how amazing the harmonies are. Like on most JEW songs.