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.
Cigarette burnin' low on the rock and roll
Man I wish the morning would come
2 thousand miles between me and my home
My red eyes start to succumb
Interstate signals - red white and blue
Long black ribbon of truth
Golden strings in the hair of my woman
Kickin' back the loss of my youth
Slow rain - black train
I can never stop - feedin' my head
High speed - wet dream
I can never sleep
No home - no bed
I can't remember my name
But I don't feel ashamed
On this long cold black train
Help me jesus hold up my head
Don't think I'm gonna make it this time
How many reasons to live by the code
When you're layin' it all on the line
The hit parade is calling me softly
Wonder when I'm gonna die
All the times I've seen this dark train
Too many mountains to climb
Slow rain - black train
I can never stop - feedin' my head
High speed - wet dream
I can never sleep
No home - no bed
Cheap trick - I'm sick
Just another song
4 lanes insane
Black pearl - soft curls
The sun is gonna shine
Someday my girl
I can't remember my name
But I don't feel ashamed
On this long cold black train
Man I wish the morning would come
2 thousand miles between me and my home
My red eyes start to succumb
Interstate signals - red white and blue
Long black ribbon of truth
Golden strings in the hair of my woman
Kickin' back the loss of my youth
Slow rain - black train
I can never stop - feedin' my head
High speed - wet dream
I can never sleep
No home - no bed
I can't remember my name
But I don't feel ashamed
On this long cold black train
Help me jesus hold up my head
Don't think I'm gonna make it this time
How many reasons to live by the code
When you're layin' it all on the line
The hit parade is calling me softly
Wonder when I'm gonna die
All the times I've seen this dark train
Too many mountains to climb
Slow rain - black train
I can never stop - feedin' my head
High speed - wet dream
I can never sleep
No home - no bed
Cheap trick - I'm sick
Just another song
4 lanes insane
Black pearl - soft curls
The sun is gonna shine
Someday my girl
I can't remember my name
But I don't feel ashamed
On this long cold black train
Lyrics submitted by slamking
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