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.
Wait
It's coming to me
I'm starting to see
So very clearly
Why I'm never happy
Because California's lonely
California's lonely
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
I always feel sick
So hard to breathe in
My head is spinning
Or am I the only
The one that's always lonely
California's lonely
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
I'm so cold
In this heat
I'm so alone
In these crowded streets
Cause no way I'm the only
One that's always lonely
California's lonely
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
It's coming to me
I'm starting to see
So very clearly
Why I'm never happy
Because California's lonely
California's lonely
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
I always feel sick
So hard to breathe in
My head is spinning
Or am I the only
The one that's always lonely
California's lonely
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
I'm so cold
In this heat
I'm so alone
In these crowded streets
Cause no way I'm the only
One that's always lonely
California's lonely
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
California's lonely just like the rest of the world
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