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.
I am a mountain,
I am a tall tree, oh
I am a swift wind
Sweeping the country
I am a river,
Down in the valley, oh
I am a vision
And I can see clearly
If anybody asks you who I am, just stand up tall, look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I am a giant
I am an Eagle oh
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marching band
I am the people oh
I am a helping hand
I am a hero
If anybody asks you who I am, just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
In the ring of life,
I'll reign in love (I will reign)
And the world will notice a king (oh, yeah)
When all is darkness,
I'll shine a light (shine a light)
And the mirrors of sucesss reflect in me (Me)
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
(He's the greatest) Can you feel it?
(Can you feel it?)He's the greatest
(He's the greatest)Can you feel it?
(Can you feel it?)I saw the light
(He's the greatest)At the end of the tunnel
(Can you feel it?)Believe in a pot of gold
(He's the greatest)At the end of a rainbow
I am a tall tree, oh
I am a swift wind
Sweeping the country
I am a river,
Down in the valley, oh
I am a vision
And I can see clearly
If anybody asks you who I am, just stand up tall, look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I am a giant
I am an Eagle oh
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marching band
I am the people oh
I am a helping hand
I am a hero
If anybody asks you who I am, just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
In the ring of life,
I'll reign in love (I will reign)
And the world will notice a king (oh, yeah)
When all is darkness,
I'll shine a light (shine a light)
And the mirrors of sucesss reflect in me (Me)
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
(He's the greatest) Can you feel it?
(Can you feel it?)He's the greatest
(He's the greatest)Can you feel it?
(Can you feel it?)I saw the light
(He's the greatest)At the end of the tunnel
(Can you feel it?)Believe in a pot of gold
(He's the greatest)At the end of a rainbow
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I LOVE this song