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.
Count your blessings
Walk the line
Don't move too fast
Or fall behind
There are rules you must obey
They get re-written by the day
Don't do this - don't say that
Your every move is logged and tracked
By the all oppressive eye
Spy satellites in friendly skies
The new American century
Has only just begun
No one exempt from the tragedy
Counterattack start pushing back
Fight the power
That chokes your speech
Fight the power
That makes you bleed
Fight the power
That propagates lies
To keep you weak
Keep you in line
Fight the power that reigns you in
Divides and conquers
Defines your sin
Fight the power
For one and all
Before the power swallows us whole
No one dares to say a word
Our panic drives all human herds
In the land where cash is king
Our silence bought and sold for free
The future's banging on our door
When real I.D. will be the law
Love thy neighbor and turn him in
It's call patriotism
The world is watching in disbelief
Chanting shame on you
How can you stand by so quietly
Letting them rape your liberties
You can't be bothered or concerned
You see no reason for alarm
Prejudice, religion hate
Usher in new mandate
Absolute and resolved
One nation under one god
Lack of interest has its price
As we're stripped of all our rights
Those who cannot learn from history
Are doomed to repeat it!
Walk the line
Don't move too fast
Or fall behind
There are rules you must obey
They get re-written by the day
Don't do this - don't say that
Your every move is logged and tracked
By the all oppressive eye
Spy satellites in friendly skies
The new American century
Has only just begun
No one exempt from the tragedy
Counterattack start pushing back
Fight the power
That chokes your speech
Fight the power
That makes you bleed
Fight the power
That propagates lies
To keep you weak
Keep you in line
Fight the power that reigns you in
Divides and conquers
Defines your sin
Fight the power
For one and all
Before the power swallows us whole
No one dares to say a word
Our panic drives all human herds
In the land where cash is king
Our silence bought and sold for free
The future's banging on our door
When real I.D. will be the law
Love thy neighbor and turn him in
It's call patriotism
The world is watching in disbelief
Chanting shame on you
How can you stand by so quietly
Letting them rape your liberties
You can't be bothered or concerned
You see no reason for alarm
Prejudice, religion hate
Usher in new mandate
Absolute and resolved
One nation under one god
Lack of interest has its price
As we're stripped of all our rights
Those who cannot learn from history
Are doomed to repeat it!
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"No one dares to say a word Our panic drives all human herds In the land where cash is king Our silence bought and sold for free The future's banging on our door When real I.D. will be the law Love thy neighbor and turn him in It's call patriotism"
Is the best fucking part of the song.