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.
Swing
Like a chariot
At the trumpet call
When we're all unsafe
Swing
Like a wrecking-ball
Like the heart of god
What a mystery
Fill
With the wedding feast
For the snakes and beasts
With the angel teeth
Swing
Come and carry us
Come and marry us
To the blushing circus king
And dance like elephants
As he comes to us
Through a fiery golden ring
With a violin
And a song to sing
As he brings for us our wings
Now he's one of us
Plays the tambourine
Raise the bread for us
And sing
Will you wait for us
Will you stay for us
Will you grace us everything
You're a wrecking ball
With a heart of gold
We will wait for it to swing
Like a chariot
Swing it low for us
Come and carry us away
So we will become
A happy ending
So we will become
A happy ending
Fire come and carry us
Make us shine or make us rust
Tell us that you care for us
We need to hear a word for us
Let your body sail with us
Or let our bridge return to dust
Chariot
You swing for us
You think that you can carry all of us
So we will become
A happy ending
So we will become
A happy ending
So we will become
A happy ending
So we will become
A happy ending
Like a chariot
At the trumpet call
When we're all unsafe
Swing
Like a wrecking-ball
Like the heart of god
What a mystery
Fill
With the wedding feast
For the snakes and beasts
With the angel teeth
Swing
Come and carry us
Come and marry us
To the blushing circus king
And dance like elephants
As he comes to us
Through a fiery golden ring
With a violin
And a song to sing
As he brings for us our wings
Now he's one of us
Plays the tambourine
Raise the bread for us
And sing
Will you wait for us
Will you stay for us
Will you grace us everything
You're a wrecking ball
With a heart of gold
We will wait for it to swing
Like a chariot
Swing it low for us
Come and carry us away
So we will become
A happy ending
So we will become
A happy ending
Fire come and carry us
Make us shine or make us rust
Tell us that you care for us
We need to hear a word for us
Let your body sail with us
Or let our bridge return to dust
Chariot
You swing for us
You think that you can carry all of us
So we will become
A happy ending
So we will become
A happy ending
So we will become
A happy ending
So we will become
A happy ending
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I think it is "When we're all UNSAVED"
This song is filled with religious imagery....the Chariot in question is taken straight from the bible. This song seems to be based on the Rapture or Armageddon itself.
That said, I think that mulmo alread stated that Page France isnt a "religious band". Michael Nau grew up in a religious home and so alot of his imagery comes from that perspective. If you think about it, whether you are christian or not, Jesus is a symbol of "sacrifice", heaven is a symbol of "paradise", Mary is a recognizeable "mother"......
Page France uses nature and recognizeable imagery in their songs to perfection. Hello Dear Wind was the best album of 05.....get yourself a copy and do yourself that favor!