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.
Dorothy, I know you've had amazing dreams
We can't go chasing down each golden street
Each and every rainbow, each passion, each unattainable goal
We're not in dreamland anymore
Dorothy, it seems you'll never understand
This here land is everything we have
Every sweat-stained collar, every dollar,
Every bent and bloodied spur
We're not the kids that we once were
We can't be the adults we want to be
Dreams are all you have, dreams have held you back
Dreamers never live, only dream of it
Dream cars, dream houses, dream jobs, dream spouses
Dreams of tornadoes, cities of emerald
And I know we swore we'd make more of ourselves
But this plot is literally our lot in life.
American dreams pollute our cities
Our piece of the pie can't fill our bellies
(More!) More square inches
(More!) Picket fences
(More!) Clothes on the line
(More!) Naps at noontime
More of our fair share
More of our birthright
More of what we're owed
More...
Paid vacation
(More!) Entertainment
(More!) Compensation
(More!) Gratuitous gratification
Dorothy, wake up, Dorothy, wake up
Dorothy, wake up, it's time for work
We can't go chasing down each golden street
Each and every rainbow, each passion, each unattainable goal
We're not in dreamland anymore
Dorothy, it seems you'll never understand
This here land is everything we have
Every sweat-stained collar, every dollar,
Every bent and bloodied spur
We're not the kids that we once were
We can't be the adults we want to be
Dreams are all you have, dreams have held you back
Dreamers never live, only dream of it
Dream cars, dream houses, dream jobs, dream spouses
Dreams of tornadoes, cities of emerald
And I know we swore we'd make more of ourselves
But this plot is literally our lot in life.
American dreams pollute our cities
Our piece of the pie can't fill our bellies
(More!) More square inches
(More!) Picket fences
(More!) Clothes on the line
(More!) Naps at noontime
More of our fair share
More of our birthright
More of what we're owed
More...
Paid vacation
(More!) Entertainment
(More!) Compensation
(More!) Gratuitous gratification
Dorothy, wake up, Dorothy, wake up
Dorothy, wake up, it's time for work
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"And I know we swore we'd make more of ourselves But the product’s burning.. ahhhhhhh!"
is actually:
"And I know we swore we'd make more of ourselves, but this plot is literally our lot in life."
i got the 7" in the mail today