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.
Jimmy wasn't really popular
He had a couple of friends back home
Sooner or later they're all gettin' out
So he had to join up alone
He was dreamin' of the ivy leagues
Since he was only three feet tall
And get the hell out of Jersey
And then he would never look back at all
And then you hear em' say
That miles away
We lost another one that we sent with a gun
They're gonna miss him He was two weeks from twenty
And there's still no shame
From the man to blame
Jimmy never had a reason to stay
'Cause all the factories shut down
All he had was a line for his name
So he could sign away his right to be proud
He tried to kiss her on the way out the door
She just put her little hand on his face
I don't understand why you're leavin', she said
But I hope you're gonna ask me to wait
And then you hear em' say
That miles away
We lost another one that we sent with a gun
His lady missed him He was two weeks from twenty
And there's still no shame
From the man to blame
Jimmy's mother went to Capitol Hill
So she could fill her heart up with joy
Maybe shake a few hands while she's there
And tell em' thank you sir for takin' my boy
And then you hear em' say
That miles away
We lost another one that we sent with a gun
His momma missed him He was two weeks from twenty
And there's still no shame
From the man to blame
No there's still no shame
And we're all to blame
We're all to blame
We're all to blame
We're all to blame
We're all to blame
He had a couple of friends back home
Sooner or later they're all gettin' out
So he had to join up alone
He was dreamin' of the ivy leagues
Since he was only three feet tall
And get the hell out of Jersey
And then he would never look back at all
And then you hear em' say
That miles away
We lost another one that we sent with a gun
They're gonna miss him He was two weeks from twenty
And there's still no shame
From the man to blame
Jimmy never had a reason to stay
'Cause all the factories shut down
All he had was a line for his name
So he could sign away his right to be proud
He tried to kiss her on the way out the door
She just put her little hand on his face
I don't understand why you're leavin', she said
But I hope you're gonna ask me to wait
And then you hear em' say
That miles away
We lost another one that we sent with a gun
His lady missed him He was two weeks from twenty
And there's still no shame
From the man to blame
Jimmy's mother went to Capitol Hill
So she could fill her heart up with joy
Maybe shake a few hands while she's there
And tell em' thank you sir for takin' my boy
And then you hear em' say
That miles away
We lost another one that we sent with a gun
His momma missed him He was two weeks from twenty
And there's still no shame
From the man to blame
No there's still no shame
And we're all to blame
We're all to blame
We're all to blame
We're all to blame
We're all to blame
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very good song, I actually got the meaning on my own!
Anti-war obviously, kinda fits with my sentiments right now, I like how they hint at "the man to blame"