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.
[This is not an official translation but my own attempt at one. If anyone has suggestions for changes, I'd appreciate the input :)]
Fate has smiled upon me
And has made a present for me
Threw me onto a warm star
Close to the skin, far from the eye
I take my fate into my own hand
My desire is fulfilled*
Where the sweet water dies
Because it is spoiled in the salt
I keep the Little Prince in mind
A king without a queen
When a woman strays to me
Then all the world becomes confused
Man against man
My skin belongs to men
Man against man
Like attracts like
Man against man
I am the servant of two lords**
Man against man
Like attracts like
I am the corner of all rooms
I am the shadow of all trees
No link is missing in my chain***
When the desire**** pulls from behind
My gender curses me as a traitor
I am the nightmare of all fathers
Man against man
My skin belongs to men
Man against man
Like attracts like
Man against man
But my heart does freeze on certain days
Man against man
Cold tongues that strike
Homo
I am not interested in balance
The sun shines onto my face
But my heart does freeze on certain days
Cold tongues that strike
Homo
Man against man
-------------------------------------------------------------
* - I’m not sure whether my translation is correct, but the intended wordplay is obviously that the verb “bemannt” has the word “Mann” in it
** – The word “Herr” can, of course, be translated as (gentle-)man, but “lord” sounded better in the context of servants
*** – “Glied”, when referring to a chain, means “link”, but it can also mean “member” in connection to genitalia
**** – The German “Lust” is not as strong as the English “lust”; I would place it somewhere between “desire” and “lust” in English
Fate has smiled upon me
And has made a present for me
Threw me onto a warm star
Close to the skin, far from the eye
I take my fate into my own hand
My desire is fulfilled*
Where the sweet water dies
Because it is spoiled in the salt
I keep the Little Prince in mind
A king without a queen
When a woman strays to me
Then all the world becomes confused
Man against man
My skin belongs to men
Man against man
Like attracts like
Man against man
I am the servant of two lords**
Man against man
Like attracts like
I am the corner of all rooms
I am the shadow of all trees
No link is missing in my chain***
When the desire**** pulls from behind
My gender curses me as a traitor
I am the nightmare of all fathers
Man against man
My skin belongs to men
Man against man
Like attracts like
Man against man
But my heart does freeze on certain days
Man against man
Cold tongues that strike
Homo
I am not interested in balance
The sun shines onto my face
But my heart does freeze on certain days
Cold tongues that strike
Homo
Man against man
-------------------------------------------------------------
* - I’m not sure whether my translation is correct, but the intended wordplay is obviously that the verb “bemannt” has the word “Mann” in it
** – The word “Herr” can, of course, be translated as (gentle-)man, but “lord” sounded better in the context of servants
*** – “Glied”, when referring to a chain, means “link”, but it can also mean “member” in connection to genitalia
**** – The German “Lust” is not as strong as the English “lust”; I would place it somewhere between “desire” and “lust” in English
Lyrics submitted by paphan
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In actuality, it's man vs. man. So yeah, that's a pretty good angle to take on this song if you don't like the gay sex. Which I do.