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.
Man watching video
The clock keeps on ticking
He doesn't know why
He's just cattle for slaughter
The, requiem
When the meaningful words
When they cease to function
When there's nothing to say
When will it start bothering you?
The, requiem
Only a hint of religion
Uncensors to its false depravity
The sound of breaking glass
This is a reflection
The, requiem
The clock keeps on ticking
He doesn't know why
He's just cattle for slaughter
The, requiem
When the meaningful words
When they cease to function
When there's nothing to say
When will it start bothering you?
The, requiem
Only a hint of religion
Uncensors to its false depravity
The sound of breaking glass
This is a reflection
The, requiem
Lyrics submitted by Agentlemonhead, edited by MistahBungle
Requiem Lyrics as written by Kevin Walker Jaz Coleman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Apocalyptic stuff. Reminds me a bit of the BBC Drama "Threads" (the most disturbing thing ever made, some say) - this was earlier, mind you.
Considering this album came out as Britain went into particularly dark times (Thatcherism just around the corner) its quite paranoid and sounds like everything has broken down.