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.
You look just like an Elvis from hell
My heart is broken, so I'm gong to hell
Bury me way down deep in hell
I'm a steel drivin' man, I want to go to hell
Then go tell Ivy oh-oh
For the love of Ivy yeah-yeah
I did it for Ivy oh-oh
You're the one
Gonna buy me a graveyard of my own
Kill everyone who ever done me wrong
Gonna buy me a gun just as long as my arm
Kill everyone who ever done me harm
Then go tell Ivy oh-oh
For the love of Ivy yeah-yeah
I did it for Ivy oh-oh
You're the one
Well, jawbone eat and jawbone talk
Jawbone eat you with a knife and fork
I was hunting for niggers down in the dark
When suddenly I got a better thought
Let's go hunt Ivy, oh-oh
Let's go get Ivy, yeah-yeah
For the love of Ivy, oh-oh
You're the one
I did it for Ivy
I did it for Ivy
Ha ha ha, Ivy
I was all dressed up like Elvis from hell, hell
My heart is broken, so I'm gong to hell
Bury me way down deep in hell
I'm a steel drivin' man, I want to go to hell
Then go tell Ivy oh-oh
For the love of Ivy yeah-yeah
I did it for Ivy oh-oh
You're the one
Gonna buy me a graveyard of my own
Kill everyone who ever done me wrong
Gonna buy me a gun just as long as my arm
Kill everyone who ever done me harm
Then go tell Ivy oh-oh
For the love of Ivy yeah-yeah
I did it for Ivy oh-oh
You're the one
Well, jawbone eat and jawbone talk
Jawbone eat you with a knife and fork
I was hunting for niggers down in the dark
When suddenly I got a better thought
Let's go hunt Ivy, oh-oh
Let's go get Ivy, yeah-yeah
For the love of Ivy, oh-oh
You're the one
I did it for Ivy
I did it for Ivy
Ha ha ha, Ivy
I was all dressed up like Elvis from hell, hell
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