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.
All the clouds are black
Mother is cried out
Someone else broke my fall
I don't remember
Internationally bastardized
Internationally tongue-tied
The truth is I'm not sorry
It's bigger than the both of us
A pillar of salt, a box of want
You were pulled out of the embers
It was never my intention
All the clouds are black
Mother is cried out
Summertime has come and gone
All used up with wishful thinking
Get sussed out, get cynical
In this world there are no second chances
Crawling round on all fours
Curl yourself into a circle
I will tear myself apart
If you promise to paint me
As a work of art
You don't need to preach to me
I'm a believer baby
You don't need to preach to me
I'm a believer
If you want lies I can tell them
If you want lies I got 'em
All the pennies in the Thames
Will not make it how it was
Mother is cried out
Someone else broke my fall
I don't remember
Internationally bastardized
Internationally tongue-tied
The truth is I'm not sorry
It's bigger than the both of us
A pillar of salt, a box of want
You were pulled out of the embers
It was never my intention
All the clouds are black
Mother is cried out
Summertime has come and gone
All used up with wishful thinking
Get sussed out, get cynical
In this world there are no second chances
Crawling round on all fours
Curl yourself into a circle
I will tear myself apart
If you promise to paint me
As a work of art
You don't need to preach to me
I'm a believer baby
You don't need to preach to me
I'm a believer
If you want lies I can tell them
If you want lies I got 'em
All the pennies in the Thames
Will not make it how it was
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very good song, especially the chorus. nice