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.
The coroner threw a party,
at the county jail.
It was bare light bulbs,
and green concrete.
Minute Maid and processed cheese.
And I, I was the entertainment.
I, was the topic of conversation.
So I did my best impressions.
And I heard the priest's confessions.
And I joined the prison band.
I'm not sure how, they seemed so nice.
Pretty, sad and tough.
the prison gangs line up,
and they sing to me.
They sing, the truth sounds like a lie.
And you won't know when you die,
if you've been cheated,
cheated or spared,
Soon enough, the sheriff's deputy backs in to me.
It's only nine A.M.,
the party only just began.
I tell him you will spend the next ten years,
working out the last six monthes.
It's easier to lie to an audience,
when no one's listening.
One more ride home.
One more gas station.
You will spend the next ten years (one more ride home).
Working out the last six monthes (one more gas station).
Pretty, sad and tough.
The prison guards line up,
and they slowly shake my hand.
They say the truth sounds like a lie.
And you won't know when you die,
if you've been cheated,
cheated or spared or spared.
Pretty and tough,
the warden always gets it up.
The prison boys are rough,
so the warden cuffs 'em up.
I tell them you will spend the next ten years,
working out the last six monthes.
It's easier to lie.
It's always easier to lie.
You take us one step further out the door.
You take us one step further out the door.
Further out the door.
Further out the door.
Oh one more ride home.
Oh one more gas station.
One more week.
They tell me.
They tell me.
One more walk through my parents living room.
And then you sit there.
Can we get you anything.
at the county jail.
It was bare light bulbs,
and green concrete.
Minute Maid and processed cheese.
And I, I was the entertainment.
I, was the topic of conversation.
So I did my best impressions.
And I heard the priest's confessions.
And I joined the prison band.
I'm not sure how, they seemed so nice.
Pretty, sad and tough.
the prison gangs line up,
and they sing to me.
They sing, the truth sounds like a lie.
And you won't know when you die,
if you've been cheated,
cheated or spared,
Soon enough, the sheriff's deputy backs in to me.
It's only nine A.M.,
the party only just began.
I tell him you will spend the next ten years,
working out the last six monthes.
It's easier to lie to an audience,
when no one's listening.
One more ride home.
One more gas station.
You will spend the next ten years (one more ride home).
Working out the last six monthes (one more gas station).
Pretty, sad and tough.
The prison guards line up,
and they slowly shake my hand.
They say the truth sounds like a lie.
And you won't know when you die,
if you've been cheated,
cheated or spared or spared.
Pretty and tough,
the warden always gets it up.
The prison boys are rough,
so the warden cuffs 'em up.
I tell them you will spend the next ten years,
working out the last six monthes.
It's easier to lie.
It's always easier to lie.
You take us one step further out the door.
You take us one step further out the door.
Further out the door.
Further out the door.
Oh one more ride home.
Oh one more gas station.
One more week.
They tell me.
They tell me.
One more walk through my parents living room.
And then you sit there.
Can we get you anything.
Lyrics submitted by clarion113
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the "line"(S) that you're probably overlooking are
"Pretty and tough, the warden always gets it up. The prison boys are rough, so the warden cuffs 'em up."
these lines, plus the homosexual tendancies that develop during a prolonged stay in prison. make it a pretty good allegory for sexual abuse.