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.
full growed porcupine dead on the road
it'll take a big ox, son, to carry that load
i got checked out by a blonde, young heifer
she says she might wanna but i ain't gonna let er
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hitch in my hip like an old sheep dog
puff up my chest like a big bull frog
socks on my feet like a true paint hoss
belt round my belly like a galloway cross
built a barn outta straw for to not pay rent
the thing blew over like a cheap green tent
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hitch in my hip like an old sheep dog
puff up my chest like a big bull frog
yodel-ay
smoke in the barbed wire, posts on fire
anybody seen my lucky fencing pliers?
they didn't cost nothin cuz they come with the truck
and old uncle hugh's still bringin me luck
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hitch in my hip like an old sheep dog
puff up my chest like a big bull frog
it'll take a big ox, son, to carry that load
i got checked out by a blonde, young heifer
she says she might wanna but i ain't gonna let er
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hitch in my hip like an old sheep dog
puff up my chest like a big bull frog
socks on my feet like a true paint hoss
belt round my belly like a galloway cross
built a barn outta straw for to not pay rent
the thing blew over like a cheap green tent
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hitch in my hip like an old sheep dog
puff up my chest like a big bull frog
yodel-ay
smoke in the barbed wire, posts on fire
anybody seen my lucky fencing pliers?
they didn't cost nothin cuz they come with the truck
and old uncle hugh's still bringin me luck
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hair in my eyes like a highland steer
spring in my step like a white tailed deer
hitch in my hip like an old sheep dog
puff up my chest like a big bull frog
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Come on, nobody likes Corb Lund?