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.
I have to sell my soul to you
And that's just to pay for its renewal
How long have you been at it
How many fingers am I holding up
I know I was away for a while
But now I'm back does it make any difference
This woman's in a state
Better tie her up
Put her on my plate
And I'll make her smile again
That's the point
Nobody ever asked you how you feel
You are trapped
Don't waste your energy
You are trapped
Don't waste your energy
Cracked up woman
On the run
See it weighs me down
Like tar in your lung
You are dropped don't waste your energy
Waste your energy
You said that night that we might run away
And yes we'll end up in some better place
And once we'd gone there'd be no coming back
Why should you beg forgiveness, from us
For the pleasure you give us
You're just trapped
Don't waste your energy
You said that night that we might run away
And yes we'll end up in some better place
And once we'd gone there'd be no coming back
And that's just to pay for its renewal
How long have you been at it
How many fingers am I holding up
I know I was away for a while
But now I'm back does it make any difference
This woman's in a state
Better tie her up
Put her on my plate
And I'll make her smile again
That's the point
Nobody ever asked you how you feel
You are trapped
Don't waste your energy
You are trapped
Don't waste your energy
Cracked up woman
On the run
See it weighs me down
Like tar in your lung
You are dropped don't waste your energy
Waste your energy
You said that night that we might run away
And yes we'll end up in some better place
And once we'd gone there'd be no coming back
Why should you beg forgiveness, from us
For the pleasure you give us
You're just trapped
Don't waste your energy
You said that night that we might run away
And yes we'll end up in some better place
And once we'd gone there'd be no coming back
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I think I'll have to churn over what this song means. But my first impression was there is some form of abuse going on - "You are trapped, don't waste your energy" and even more obviously, "Why should you beg forgiveness, from us - for the pleasure you give us". And I can't get my head around "You said that night that we might run away....etc" ... It's probably a relationship gone wrong. Where the girl wronged the guy somehow... I really like this song, just not too sure what it means
I thought it was about a woman that is trapped in a relationship, and the song is from another man that she is in love with.. However, I thought the line was "why should you beg forgiveness for the pleasures you give up."
I don't have the liner notes, so I bet this is correct... But I guess I have to churn, as well :)