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.
See my love is asleep on the floor
In a pose that's familiar
See my sun will send you to war
If the battles won't kill you
Now I've a change in mind
Just calling all the time
That I don't want to live in your side
Though the rose is vermilion
And I find it so hard to survive
Without when within you
My sweet Lavinia
My sweet Lavinia
All the years buried under the floors
And the wounds in the parlour
Would have come up to greet us before
If it weren't for my heart 'cause
I've her name in mine
And it's calling all the time
For my sweet Lavinia
In a pose that's familiar
See my sun will send you to war
If the battles won't kill you
Now I've a change in mind
Just calling all the time
That I don't want to live in your side
Though the rose is vermilion
And I find it so hard to survive
Without when within you
My sweet Lavinia
My sweet Lavinia
All the years buried under the floors
And the wounds in the parlour
Would have come up to greet us before
If it weren't for my heart 'cause
I've her name in mine
And it's calling all the time
For my sweet Lavinia
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I'm with Mel Azavedo - I think there's a killing vibe to this song. However, I think he's planning to kill himself because even though he really loves Lavinia, he can't get past the death of his lover Lucia, and is hoping to be reunited with her in death. I hear the lyrics just a little bit differently than what they have up here:
See my love asleep on the floor In a pose that's familiar See, my son, we'll send you to war If the battle don't kill you
But I've a change in mind *She's calling all the time
That I don't want to live in your side Though the rose is vermillion And I'd find it so hard to survive Without when within you
My sweet Lavinia My sweet Lavinia
All the years buried under the floors And the wounds in the parlour Would have come up to greet us before If it weren't for my heart because
*I've her name in mind And it's calling all the time
For my sweet lavinia
Lucia my love, in the darkness shine Lucia my love, and you're not mine Lucia my love, in silence so long Lucia my love, no promise no more, Lucia, I walk this unknown My Lucia my lover my own Lucia, my love, i leave here soon Lucia, my love, my life's over when i come home Lucia, Lucia, Lucia, Lucia... two three four