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.
Warm milk and honey
Sweeten my teeth.
From little acorns you..
You quietly made me..
Made me into me.
Paper thin skin stretched
Over my bones.
From shells and pebbles you..
You quietly made me..?
Made me a home.
But I can't get used
To being alone.
And I won't get used
To being alone.
Under a full moon,
Hopelessly trying to
Retrace our footsteps in the snow.
I don't know when to hang on
And when to let go.
Foxes in boxes,
And butterfly blues.
From little acorns you..
You quietly made me..
Made me into you.
Holding it under
My tongue 'til it stings.
From all of my demons
You quietly saved me
Again and again.
But now I feel
And surface again.
Yes, I can feel
And surface again.
From little bubbles,
Little air bubbles,
Little embolysms grow.
I don't know to hang on.
Everything I feel feels wrong.
I don't know when to hang on
And when to let go.
Sweeten my teeth.
From little acorns you..
You quietly made me..
Made me into me.
Paper thin skin stretched
Over my bones.
From shells and pebbles you..
You quietly made me..?
Made me a home.
But I can't get used
To being alone.
And I won't get used
To being alone.
Under a full moon,
Hopelessly trying to
Retrace our footsteps in the snow.
I don't know when to hang on
And when to let go.
Foxes in boxes,
And butterfly blues.
From little acorns you..
You quietly made me..
Made me into you.
Holding it under
My tongue 'til it stings.
From all of my demons
You quietly saved me
Again and again.
But now I feel
And surface again.
Yes, I can feel
And surface again.
From little bubbles,
Little air bubbles,
Little embolysms grow.
I don't know to hang on.
Everything I feel feels wrong.
I don't know when to hang on
And when to let go.
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I think this song is about someone he used to be in a relationship with but isn't anymore, and how it kind of spoiled him by showing him how good it could be. And now nobody he meets can match up to her, so he feels like he won't find it again.