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.
Brother,brother what can I do?
Brother,brother I don't even know you
Brother,brother I have never met you
Brother,brother I can still feel your pain
Brother,brother what can I do?
I was standing right next to you
I know that it's not quite the same, but the tears that are falling are for your name-
my mom and dad - they can't understand
they know more than I ever can
I just know by seeing through them that I have to stand up a be a man.
I am smarter now, I am stronger now, violence is an awful thing and I say
Television hosts take charge of the time
discussions make sence not all the time
journalist asks a young black female what she thinks of the Korean race
she then replies that they're no good
he asks her why what did they do?
She shruggs her shoulders she does not know
this brings me down and I feel sorrow
Brother,brother I don't even know you
Brother,brother I have never met you
Brother,brother I can still feel your pain
Brother,brother what can I do?
I was standing right next to you
I know that it's not quite the same, but the tears that are falling are for your name-
my mom and dad - they can't understand
they know more than I ever can
I just know by seeing through them that I have to stand up a be a man.
I am smarter now, I am stronger now, violence is an awful thing and I say
Television hosts take charge of the time
discussions make sence not all the time
journalist asks a young black female what she thinks of the Korean race
she then replies that they're no good
he asks her why what did they do?
She shruggs her shoulders she does not know
this brings me down and I feel sorrow
Lyrics submitted by zouyan
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