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 by the boots that I wear , see by the way I cut my hair
I 'm proud to be a skinhead , it 's a way of life
A youth subculture as sharp as a knife
Look at the youth today , skinheads rule and that 's o.k. - 2X
See us in the cities , see us in the suburbs , 25 years and we 're still going strong
Skinheads rule o.k. , we are the boys
Our music is loud and our music is Oi !
We remember our roots , we remember them well , the Spirit of '69 still lives on
The music may have changed , but not our hearts
We still love reggae , rocksteady , and ska
I 'm proud to be a skinhead , it 's a way of life
A youth subculture as sharp as a knife
Look at the youth today , skinheads rule and that 's o.k. - 2X
See us in the cities , see us in the suburbs , 25 years and we 're still going strong
Skinheads rule o.k. , we are the boys
Our music is loud and our music is Oi !
We remember our roots , we remember them well , the Spirit of '69 still lives on
The music may have changed , but not our hearts
We still love reggae , rocksteady , and ska
Lyrics submitted by bootboysteve
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