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.
He put it out
It meant nothing in the world to him so
He put it out
His hunger needed some attention so
He laid it out
Swapped it all for a bowl of pork and beans
And he got put out
Left for poor
By a man of means
Esau, you sod
You gave it away
Esau, you sought it with tears
Couldn't get it back again
She put it out
He put the heat on and she got too hot so
She put it out
Gives in a little
But she's giving him a lot and she lays it out
She's showing all her prized possessions to him and
She's putting out
She's swapping everything for what he's putting in but
Her lamp goes out
She didn't notice the light was growing dim and then
He goes out
And he takes everything that she had
With him
Tamar babe
You shoulda run away
Tamar babe
You saw it coming
Did you have to stay and play
Tamar babe!
Where was your head that day
Tamar, He took your best and left
You left it too late
Too late
Too late
Too late
Too late
Ashes for your veil
Ashes for your veil
Veil of ashes
Veil of ashes
Veil of ashes
It meant nothing in the world to him so
He put it out
His hunger needed some attention so
He laid it out
Swapped it all for a bowl of pork and beans
And he got put out
Left for poor
By a man of means
Esau, you sod
You gave it away
Esau, you sought it with tears
Couldn't get it back again
She put it out
He put the heat on and she got too hot so
She put it out
Gives in a little
But she's giving him a lot and she lays it out
She's showing all her prized possessions to him and
She's putting out
She's swapping everything for what he's putting in but
Her lamp goes out
She didn't notice the light was growing dim and then
He goes out
And he takes everything that she had
With him
Tamar babe
You shoulda run away
Tamar babe
You saw it coming
Did you have to stay and play
Tamar babe!
Where was your head that day
Tamar, He took your best and left
You left it too late
Too late
Too late
Too late
Too late
Ashes for your veil
Ashes for your veil
Veil of ashes
Veil of ashes
Veil of ashes
Lyrics submitted by musicandnintendo
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