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.
Shallow it seems but I need you here
From me to you, I know I can't feel a thing
Oh, sing me to sleep
I won't fight it when you leave
Oh, I wish you were here
I wish you were here
I wish you were here, oh.
Desperate it seems but I can't breathe
Are you real?
Are you real?
I can't feel a thing
And this machine won't stop
Be here when I wake
Sing me to sleep
I won't fight it when you leave
Sing me to sleep
I won't fight it
Oh, I wish you were here
I wish you were here
I wish you were here, oh.
From me to you, I know I can't feel a thing
Oh, sing me to sleep
I won't fight it when you leave
Oh, I wish you were here
I wish you were here
I wish you were here, oh.
Desperate it seems but I can't breathe
Are you real?
Are you real?
I can't feel a thing
And this machine won't stop
Be here when I wake
Sing me to sleep
I won't fight it when you leave
Sing me to sleep
I won't fight it
Oh, I wish you were here
I wish you were here
I wish you were here, oh.
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it kind of reminds me of pink floyd's wishing you were here. with the reference to the machine, and how 'wish you were here' had the songs welcome to the machine. i dont know if its related or not, it just reminded me of it.
on the other side, i think these lyrics are pretty self explanitory. it seems to me that he's referring to someone who has died though, seeing as its shallow to want someone back from a greater calling. the part "are you real?" seems like hes seeing the person in a dream and not sure if they really are there.
i like how at the end theres the door opening and closing and him walking out. just an outstanding song.