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 swear that if I could
I'd take it all
Take it all away
All the sorrow and the pain
I'm not responsible
You always say
But you need your space
And this always ends the same
Hey, is your heart still beating?
I can't stop the bleeding
I've lost you completely
Hey, gather all the heartache
I'll hold it in my hand
Just to lose it all again
If there's a bright side
To this suffering
Can you help me see?
It's getting harder to believe
You always said this
Would not last long
But it's gone on and on and on
And I just can't make it stop
Hey, is your heart still beating?
I can't stop the bleeding
I've lost you completely
Hey, gather all the heartache
I'll hold it in my hand
Just to lose it all again
They're right this time
I won't pretend to smile
Because inside
I'm black and
I am hollow
This time you've
[Repeat: x5]
Took this way too far
I'm sick
And tired
Inside
I'm black and
I am hollow
I'm trying to find
What's missing form my life
And the tables have turned
This life is only temporary
This life is only temporary
I'd take it all
Take it all away
All the sorrow and the pain
I'm not responsible
You always say
But you need your space
And this always ends the same
Hey, is your heart still beating?
I can't stop the bleeding
I've lost you completely
Hey, gather all the heartache
I'll hold it in my hand
Just to lose it all again
If there's a bright side
To this suffering
Can you help me see?
It's getting harder to believe
You always said this
Would not last long
But it's gone on and on and on
And I just can't make it stop
Hey, is your heart still beating?
I can't stop the bleeding
I've lost you completely
Hey, gather all the heartache
I'll hold it in my hand
Just to lose it all again
They're right this time
I won't pretend to smile
Because inside
I'm black and
I am hollow
This time you've
[Repeat: x5]
Took this way too far
I'm sick
And tired
Inside
I'm black and
I am hollow
I'm trying to find
What's missing form my life
And the tables have turned
This life is only temporary
This life is only temporary
Lyrics submitted by fedorov1fan
The Bright Side of Suffering Lyrics as written by Peter Allen Costa Pouyan Sean Afkary
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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wow..scary kids scaring kids quickly became my favorite band after listening to this song!