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.
Don't cry for me my baby
Don't say a word
Everyone knows you're a dangerous bird
Fly like a golden eagle
Sleek like the snow
Ticking your time bomb where ever you go
You're sinking a line without a trace
With elegant crimes against the state
Killing with kindness yeah
Making the most of the mess oh yeah
You're mother and childless yeah, yeah
Just kill them with kindness yeah, yeah
Bye cruel politician
Now you've been caught
Came from behind
It's a dangerous spot
Green are the seeds of envy
Watch how they grow
Everyone knows there's a fire down below
You're sinking a line without a trace
With elegant crimes against the state
Killing with kindness yeah
Making the most of the mess oh yeah
You're mother and childless yeah, yeah
Just kill them with kindness yeah, yeah
Killing with kindness
Raising the ghost from the flesh oh yeah
Don't blind them with science yeah, yeah
Just kill them with kindness yeah, yeah
Turn your back
And you might understand
Become your destiny
And you'll be a lucky man
Don't let anything stand in your way
Don't say a word
Everyone knows you're a dangerous bird
Fly like a golden eagle
Sleek like the snow
Ticking your time bomb where ever you go
You're sinking a line without a trace
With elegant crimes against the state
Killing with kindness yeah
Making the most of the mess oh yeah
You're mother and childless yeah, yeah
Just kill them with kindness yeah, yeah
Bye cruel politician
Now you've been caught
Came from behind
It's a dangerous spot
Green are the seeds of envy
Watch how they grow
Everyone knows there's a fire down below
You're sinking a line without a trace
With elegant crimes against the state
Killing with kindness yeah
Making the most of the mess oh yeah
You're mother and childless yeah, yeah
Just kill them with kindness yeah, yeah
Killing with kindness
Raising the ghost from the flesh oh yeah
Don't blind them with science yeah, yeah
Just kill them with kindness yeah, yeah
Turn your back
And you might understand
Become your destiny
And you'll be a lucky man
Don't let anything stand in your way
Lyrics submitted by avoidingtheclowns, edited by aventurine
Killing With Kindness Lyrics as written by Simon Steadman Charlton Pettus
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Just a few corrections, marked with asterisks
Don't cry for me my baby Don't say a word Everyone knows you're a dangerous bird
You're sinking a line without a trace With elegant crimes against the state
Killing with kindness yeah Making the most of the mess oh yeah
You might want to try this, yeah, yeah Just kill them with kindness yeah, yeah
Bite pillow, politician Now you've been caught Came from behind It's a dangerous spot
Green are the seeds of envy Watch how they grow Everyone knows there's a fire down below
You're sinking a line without a trace With elegant crimes against the state
Killing with kindness yeah Making the most of the mess oh yeah
Killing with kindness Raising the ghost from the flesh oh yeah Don't blind them with science yeah, yeah Just kill them with kindness yeah, yeah
Turn your back And you might understand Become your destiny And you'll be a lucky man Don't let anything stand in your way
Source: A friend has the UK edition, which includes liner lyrics.
This is probably my favorite TFF song of them all. I could not love it more.