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.
And if I weren't leavin',
Would I catch you dreamin'
And if I weren't gonna be gone now,
Could I take you home
And if I told you I love you,
Would it change what you see
And if I was staying,
Would you stay with me
And if I had money,
Would it all look good
And if I had a job now,
Like a good man should
And if I came to you tomorrow,
And said "let's run away"
Would you roll like the wind does,
Baby would you stay
My heart is dancin',
To a November tune
And I hope that you hear it,
Singing songs about you
And I sing songs of sorrow,
Because you're not around
See, babe I'm gone tomorrow,
Baby follow me down
And I don't know why I have to,
But this man must move on
I love my time here,
Didn't know 'til I was gone
November shadows, shade November change
November spells sweet memory, the season blue remains
November spells sweet memory, the season blue remains
Your yellow hair is like the sunlight,
However sweet it shines
Bit by the cold of December,
I'm warm beside your smile
Oh lady tell me I'm not leaving,
You're everything I dream
I'm killing myself thinking,
I've fallen like the leaves
I'm killing myself thinking,
I've fallen like the leaves
Would I catch you dreamin'
And if I weren't gonna be gone now,
Could I take you home
And if I told you I love you,
Would it change what you see
And if I was staying,
Would you stay with me
And if I had money,
Would it all look good
And if I had a job now,
Like a good man should
And if I came to you tomorrow,
And said "let's run away"
Would you roll like the wind does,
Baby would you stay
My heart is dancin',
To a November tune
And I hope that you hear it,
Singing songs about you
And I sing songs of sorrow,
Because you're not around
See, babe I'm gone tomorrow,
Baby follow me down
And I don't know why I have to,
But this man must move on
I love my time here,
Didn't know 'til I was gone
November shadows, shade November change
November spells sweet memory, the season blue remains
November spells sweet memory, the season blue remains
Your yellow hair is like the sunlight,
However sweet it shines
Bit by the cold of December,
I'm warm beside your smile
Oh lady tell me I'm not leaving,
You're everything I dream
I'm killing myself thinking,
I've fallen like the leaves
I'm killing myself thinking,
I've fallen like the leaves
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Early last year, my (then-)boyfriend and I performed this song together, and I had videos of us rehearsing. I was just rewatching it, and it tore me in two.
....And to come here and read your comment? Broke my heart all over again. You literally described what happened to us. /Exactly/. Holy damn. Bittersweet.