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.
Don't spit on me and shame yourself
Because you wish you were someone else
You look so clean, but you spread your dirt
As if you think that words don't hurt
You build up walls no one can climb
The things you do should be a crime
You're the queen of superficiality
Keep your lies out of my reality
And when you're nice, it's just a pose
You're one of those haters!
Traitors to the human race
Haters!
What a drag, what a waste
I'd like to see them disappear
They don't belong anywhere
Haters! Haters!
Spinning a web, that's hard to see
Of envy, greed and jealousy
Feeling angry, but you don't know why
Why don't you look me in the eye?
You want my friends
You want my clothes
You're one of those haters!
Traitors to the human race
Haters!
What a drag, what a waste
I'd like to see them disappear
They don't belong anywhere
Haters! Haters! Haters! Haters!
Different life forms different species
Broken promises and treaties
Talking 'bout exterminating
Not the haters, just the hating
You say your boyfriend's sweet and kind
But you still got your eyes on mine
Your best friend's got her eyes on yours
It all goes on behind closed doors
And when you're nice, it's just a pose
You're one of those haters!
Traitors to the human race
Haters!
What a drag, what a waste
I'd like to see them disappear
They don't belong anywhere
Haters!
Ready for the alibi
Haters!
Any shape, any size
I'd like to see them disappear
They don't belong anywhere
Haters! Traitors!
Haters! Haters!
Haters! Haters! Haters!
Because you wish you were someone else
You look so clean, but you spread your dirt
As if you think that words don't hurt
You build up walls no one can climb
The things you do should be a crime
You're the queen of superficiality
Keep your lies out of my reality
And when you're nice, it's just a pose
You're one of those haters!
Traitors to the human race
Haters!
What a drag, what a waste
I'd like to see them disappear
They don't belong anywhere
Haters! Haters!
Spinning a web, that's hard to see
Of envy, greed and jealousy
Feeling angry, but you don't know why
Why don't you look me in the eye?
You want my friends
You want my clothes
You're one of those haters!
Traitors to the human race
Haters!
What a drag, what a waste
I'd like to see them disappear
They don't belong anywhere
Haters! Haters! Haters! Haters!
Different life forms different species
Broken promises and treaties
Talking 'bout exterminating
Not the haters, just the hating
You say your boyfriend's sweet and kind
But you still got your eyes on mine
Your best friend's got her eyes on yours
It all goes on behind closed doors
And when you're nice, it's just a pose
You're one of those haters!
Traitors to the human race
Haters!
What a drag, what a waste
I'd like to see them disappear
They don't belong anywhere
Haters!
Ready for the alibi
Haters!
Any shape, any size
I'd like to see them disappear
They don't belong anywhere
Haters! Traitors!
Haters! Haters!
Haters! Haters! Haters!
Lyrics submitted by Kworb
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