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.
Oh this hurricane’s blowing us thin
This never ending swirl of American sin
Where I strayed on my knees to a bottomless cage
Where they throw dollar bills and hope to be saved
The poshest scarf on the warmest day…
Its enough to make you give up ….she says...
I know I know I know …it shows
As we sleep in this broken Cadillac
We watch the world leave it doesn’t look back
I gotta say that…when my heart attacks
Don’t return it…it will fire right back...
So let’s just lie here as they paint us black…
Oh this earthquake is shaking our hands
Free at the wrists just as we started a dance
The hardest thing next to diamond rings
Is the coats we have to wear just to make ends meet
I got this year and fifty more to beat…
Its enough to make you give up….she says…
I know I know I know….so let go…
The nervous ticks only the holy get
The country treats as the cities get sick
The lunatics and the Harlem tricks
The country treats as we all get sick…
This never ending swirl of American sin
Where I strayed on my knees to a bottomless cage
Where they throw dollar bills and hope to be saved
The poshest scarf on the warmest day…
Its enough to make you give up ….she says...
I know I know I know …it shows
As we sleep in this broken Cadillac
We watch the world leave it doesn’t look back
I gotta say that…when my heart attacks
Don’t return it…it will fire right back...
So let’s just lie here as they paint us black…
Oh this earthquake is shaking our hands
Free at the wrists just as we started a dance
The hardest thing next to diamond rings
Is the coats we have to wear just to make ends meet
I got this year and fifty more to beat…
Its enough to make you give up….she says…
I know I know I know….so let go…
The nervous ticks only the holy get
The country treats as the cities get sick
The lunatics and the Harlem tricks
The country treats as we all get sick…
Lyrics submitted by stere0atypical
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I love this song. I loved and still love Northstar, but this song almost makes up for their breakup. I heard this song a while ago, and fell in love with Cassino. All of Nick's lyrics are so great and there's always a meaning. I think this song is about poverty.