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.
Get straight, wait here while I try to find the exit sign
When we stop asking strangers, no one wants what we want
Keep one eye on the door, keep one eye on the bag
Never expect to be sure
You're working for the police and the private, the pirates and the pilots
Fingerprinted waiting for the train
The doctor, the writer, the hairdresser,
Felt up and fingerprinted waiting for the train
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing mama
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing something I don't got
There's a place that ends here I know
When they close the gates I'll cry
I'm so tired of never sleeping
The whole world wants what we're on
Didn't make this up I learned, I learned it from a friend
My friend is coming clean, she told me
Keep one eye on the door, keep one eye on the bed
Never expect to be sure, who you're working for
You're working for the police and the private, the pirates and the pilots
Fingerprinted waiting for the train
The doctor, the writer, the garbage collector
Fingerprinted waiting for the train
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing mama
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing mama
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing mama
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing love
Got to get out
Got to get to you, the orphanage is closing in an hour
When we stop asking strangers, no one wants what we want
Keep one eye on the door, keep one eye on the bag
Never expect to be sure
You're working for the police and the private, the pirates and the pilots
Fingerprinted waiting for the train
The doctor, the writer, the hairdresser,
Felt up and fingerprinted waiting for the train
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing mama
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing something I don't got
There's a place that ends here I know
When they close the gates I'll cry
I'm so tired of never sleeping
The whole world wants what we're on
Didn't make this up I learned, I learned it from a friend
My friend is coming clean, she told me
Keep one eye on the door, keep one eye on the bed
Never expect to be sure, who you're working for
You're working for the police and the private, the pirates and the pilots
Fingerprinted waiting for the train
The doctor, the writer, the garbage collector
Fingerprinted waiting for the train
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing mama
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing mama
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing mama
Lord lord mother, you're all losing love
Lord listen lover, you're all missing love
Got to get out
Got to get to you, the orphanage is closing in an hour
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It's prostitution! AND DRUGS. Bag is drugs, bed is prostitution. Or selling yourself out for drugs, as my friend just said. A numb high. I never thought I'd find other people who agreed on the prostitution front. Prostitutes work for everyone, don't trust anyone, get felt up, and live in a world without love.
Does anyone have an idea about the orphanage?