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.
Take everything left from me
All! to! blame!
How can we still succeed taking what we don't need?
Telling lies, alibis, selling all the hate that we breed,
Super-size our tragedies (you can't define me, or justify greed),
Bought in the land of the free, (land, free)
And we're all to blame,
We've gone to far, from pride to shame,
We're trying so hard,
We're dying in vain,
We're hopelessly blissful and blind,
To all we are,
We want it all,
With no sacrifice!
Realize we spend our lives living in a culture of fear,
Stand to salute say thanks to the man of the year,
How did we all come to this (you can't define me, or justify greed),
A greed that we just can't resist (resist)
And we're all to blame,
We've gone to far,
From pride to shame,
We're trying so hard,
We're dying in vain,
We're hopelessly blissful and blind,
To all we are,
We want it all,
With no sacrifice!
Tell me now,
What have we done,
We don't know,
I can't allow,
What has begun to tear me down believe me now,
We have no choice left with our backs against the wall!
And now,
We're all to blame,
We've gone to far,
From pride to shame,
We're hopelessly blissful and blind,
When all we need,
Is something true to believe,
Don't we all,
Everyone,
Everyone,
We will fall,
Cause we're all to blame,
We've gone to far,
From pride to shame,
We're trying so hard,
We're dying in vain,
We want it all,
Everyone,
Don't we all
All! to! blame!
How can we still succeed taking what we don't need?
Telling lies, alibis, selling all the hate that we breed,
Super-size our tragedies (you can't define me, or justify greed),
Bought in the land of the free, (land, free)
And we're all to blame,
We've gone to far, from pride to shame,
We're trying so hard,
We're dying in vain,
We're hopelessly blissful and blind,
To all we are,
We want it all,
With no sacrifice!
Realize we spend our lives living in a culture of fear,
Stand to salute say thanks to the man of the year,
How did we all come to this (you can't define me, or justify greed),
A greed that we just can't resist (resist)
And we're all to blame,
We've gone to far,
From pride to shame,
We're trying so hard,
We're dying in vain,
We're hopelessly blissful and blind,
To all we are,
We want it all,
With no sacrifice!
Tell me now,
What have we done,
We don't know,
I can't allow,
What has begun to tear me down believe me now,
We have no choice left with our backs against the wall!
And now,
We're all to blame,
We've gone to far,
From pride to shame,
We're hopelessly blissful and blind,
When all we need,
Is something true to believe,
Don't we all,
Everyone,
Everyone,
We will fall,
Cause we're all to blame,
We've gone to far,
From pride to shame,
We're trying so hard,
We're dying in vain,
We want it all,
Everyone,
Don't we all
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plus the video is as funny as shit. One of the best video I've seen in a while.