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.
Show me your banner
Come show me your sign
The Crimson King's eye
Is the mark to reveal you are mine
I am your master
I will make your dreams come true
I'm your messiah
A twisted one as you may know
My right hands, my servants
My soldiers, my tools
Spread out the good news
Find my children and gather them all
We'll take all low men
All the hatred, evil souls
We share one desire
A wicked one as you may know
Touched by the Crimson King
Touched By the Saviour
The tower falls on Judgement Day
Touched By the Crimson King
Touched By the Saviour
Like it's been written many years ago
I am the angel I am madness
I am the word I am the law
I am holding truth release your sadness
I am the key I am the door
Release!
Oh there is
War and evil
Whores and sinners
Take my hand and I show you
Where to go
Call me Flagg
I'm the Good Man
I'm the Dark Man
Take my hand and
I show you where to go
Release!
Come take my hand
To the promised land
Redeemer
Deceiver
The demon
The man in black
The universe is void
Just you and I
Let there be light
The stars will rise
Then fall again
Climbing to the top
An empty room
Is all there is
Oh I fear it is
Prophecies were made of you and I
The vision's strong
But meanwhile keep on falling
Oh what a miracle is life
An even bigger one is size
It's just the way it is
I fear it is
It's just the way it is
Life's a wheel nothing more
It goes round and around and a…
I am the ageless
I am “Legion”
I'm your lord
I will bring terror
I'm a demon in disguise
The thrill of a thousand
Worlds dying at once
But my ultimate goal
Lies beyond the downfall
Touched by the Crimson King
Touched By the Saviour
The tower falls on Judgement Day
Touched By the Crimson King
Touched By the Saviour
Like it's been written many years ago
Come show me your sign
The Crimson King's eye
Is the mark to reveal you are mine
I am your master
I will make your dreams come true
I'm your messiah
A twisted one as you may know
My right hands, my servants
My soldiers, my tools
Spread out the good news
Find my children and gather them all
We'll take all low men
All the hatred, evil souls
We share one desire
A wicked one as you may know
Touched by the Crimson King
Touched By the Saviour
The tower falls on Judgement Day
Touched By the Crimson King
Touched By the Saviour
Like it's been written many years ago
I am the angel I am madness
I am the word I am the law
I am holding truth release your sadness
I am the key I am the door
Release!
Oh there is
War and evil
Whores and sinners
Take my hand and I show you
Where to go
Call me Flagg
I'm the Good Man
I'm the Dark Man
Take my hand and
I show you where to go
Release!
Come take my hand
To the promised land
Redeemer
Deceiver
The demon
The man in black
The universe is void
Just you and I
Let there be light
The stars will rise
Then fall again
Climbing to the top
An empty room
Is all there is
Oh I fear it is
Prophecies were made of you and I
The vision's strong
But meanwhile keep on falling
Oh what a miracle is life
An even bigger one is size
It's just the way it is
I fear it is
It's just the way it is
Life's a wheel nothing more
It goes round and around and a…
I am the ageless
I am “Legion”
I'm your lord
I will bring terror
I'm a demon in disguise
The thrill of a thousand
Worlds dying at once
But my ultimate goal
Lies beyond the downfall
Touched by the Crimson King
Touched By the Saviour
The tower falls on Judgement Day
Touched By the Crimson King
Touched By the Saviour
Like it's been written many years ago
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edencyclone, if you like the dark tower, have a try of the Otherland series by Tad williams, and I agree, this song is amazing but in the end doesn't the CK die? but yes, an amazing song
I think the song is a duet between Flagg and the Crimson King. Much of it is about Flagg, but the CK sings the opening and most of after "The universe is void." Makes more sense and it explains the two distinct voices.<br /> <br /> SPOILER:<br /> He swallows a spoon and it kills him, as prophecised. But then he rides to the Tower for the climax, so he's apparently undead at that point. Then he gets erased, but since his eyes remain, he's still alive even then.