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.
Looking for something I've never seen
Alone and I'm in between
The place that I'm from and the place that I'm in
A city I never been
I found a friend or should I say a foe
Said just a few things you should know
We don't want you to see we come and we go
Here today, gone tomorrow
We're only taking turns
Holding this world
It's how it's always been
When you're older you will understand
If I say who I know it just goes to show
You need me less than I need you
Take it from me we don't give sympathy
You can trust me trust nobody
But I said you and me we don't have honesty
The things we don't want to speak
I'll try to get out but I never will
Traffic is perfectly still
We're only taking turns
Holding this world
It's how it's always been
When you're older you will understand
And then again maybe you don't
And then again maybe you won't
When you're older you might understand
When you're older you might understand
Alone and I'm in between
The place that I'm from and the place that I'm in
A city I never been
I found a friend or should I say a foe
Said just a few things you should know
We don't want you to see we come and we go
Here today, gone tomorrow
We're only taking turns
Holding this world
It's how it's always been
When you're older you will understand
If I say who I know it just goes to show
You need me less than I need you
Take it from me we don't give sympathy
You can trust me trust nobody
But I said you and me we don't have honesty
The things we don't want to speak
I'll try to get out but I never will
Traffic is perfectly still
We're only taking turns
Holding this world
It's how it's always been
When you're older you will understand
And then again maybe you don't
And then again maybe you won't
When you're older you might understand
When you're older you might understand
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To me, this song is about how hard life is when your older. The song is told from the perspective of an adult, trying to explain adulthood to a child.