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.
I fell in love with a bad, bad man
Ever since I met him I been sad, sad, sad
June faded into blooms of September's moon waned and grooved
Your perfume haunted me long after I saw the swing of heaven's gate open in toward me
Luxurious in your arms, your smile is the cool sun in the dark
Misery rejoices when you're near and fever
No sign of sickness keeps me burnin' down in my heart
Winter melts, she shys away quite like the silence a dying star makes
I'm a jail bird to your music, a criminal in your prayers
I watch you in your sleep even when you're not there
^I fell in love with a bad bad man
Ever since I met him I've been sad sad sad
I'm a jail bird to your music
I'm a criminal in your prayer
I watch you in your sleep even when you're not there
Rainbows wept colour all over the streets
When you went away maybe one day we'll meet
Lipstick I'd wear for one million years
Just to stop your eyes from falling them tears
I fell in love with a bad bad man
Ever since I met him I've been sad sad sad
I'm a jail bird to your music
I'm a criminal in your prayers
I watch you in your sleep even when you're not there
Rainbows wept colour all over the streets
When you went away maybe one day we'll meet
One day we'll meet
One day we'll meet
One day we'll meet
One day
We'll meet^
Picture this: your lips on my lips
The mirror has to do for now 'cause you vanished like a cloud
Rainbows wept colour all over the streets
When you went away maybe one day we'll meet
"Oh woman," you're callin' me
I haven't slept a wink since 1916
I wasn't born then but sure feels time's been tickin'
Shadows parade outside my door
I wish we were dancin' across this old floor
Car horns honkin' down that dirty street
I wish you were yellin' tellin' to wash my feet
Lipstick I'd wear for one million years
Just to stop tears from your eyes, fallin'
Ever since I met him I been sad, sad, sad
June faded into blooms of September's moon waned and grooved
Your perfume haunted me long after I saw the swing of heaven's gate open in toward me
Luxurious in your arms, your smile is the cool sun in the dark
Misery rejoices when you're near and fever
No sign of sickness keeps me burnin' down in my heart
Winter melts, she shys away quite like the silence a dying star makes
I'm a jail bird to your music, a criminal in your prayers
I watch you in your sleep even when you're not there
^I fell in love with a bad bad man
Ever since I met him I've been sad sad sad
I'm a jail bird to your music
I'm a criminal in your prayer
I watch you in your sleep even when you're not there
Rainbows wept colour all over the streets
When you went away maybe one day we'll meet
Lipstick I'd wear for one million years
Just to stop your eyes from falling them tears
I fell in love with a bad bad man
Ever since I met him I've been sad sad sad
I'm a jail bird to your music
I'm a criminal in your prayers
I watch you in your sleep even when you're not there
Rainbows wept colour all over the streets
When you went away maybe one day we'll meet
One day we'll meet
One day we'll meet
One day we'll meet
One day
We'll meet^
Picture this: your lips on my lips
The mirror has to do for now 'cause you vanished like a cloud
Rainbows wept colour all over the streets
When you went away maybe one day we'll meet
"Oh woman," you're callin' me
I haven't slept a wink since 1916
I wasn't born then but sure feels time's been tickin'
Shadows parade outside my door
I wish we were dancin' across this old floor
Car horns honkin' down that dirty street
I wish you were yellin' tellin' to wash my feet
Lipstick I'd wear for one million years
Just to stop tears from your eyes, fallin'
Lyrics submitted by diabolical, edited by TheBloodyTrees
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I always thought the poem was recited by Bianca, with her voice pitch-shifted. But I think it could possibly be Antony as well.
finechild, the poem is sometimes used in live versions. They have it recorded on something and they play it before and during the song.