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.
Hello? hello?
Calling a Karl Projektorinski
To the front of the cathedral
You have won, dear sir
May I congratulate you first?
Oh, what an honor
Human! human of the year! you won!
Human! human of the year! you won!
Why are you so scared?
You stand there shaking by your pew
The icons are whispering to you
They're just old men
Like on the benches in the park
Except their balding spots
Are glistening with gold
Human! human of the year! you won!
Human! human of the year! you won!
You have won!
hallelujah
hallelujah
hallelujah
hallelujah
Outside the cars are beeping
Out a song just in your honor
And though they do not know it
All mankind are now your brothers
And thus the cathedral had spoken
Wishing well to all us sinners
And with a psalm drew silent
Till next year's big human winner
Outside the cars are beeping
Out a song just in your honor
And thought they do not know it
All mankind are now your brothers
All mankind are now your brothers
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hello? hello?
Calling a Karl Projektorinski
To the front of the cathedral
You have won
Calling a Karl Projektorinski
To the front of the cathedral
You have won, dear sir
May I congratulate you first?
Oh, what an honor
Human! human of the year! you won!
Human! human of the year! you won!
Why are you so scared?
You stand there shaking by your pew
The icons are whispering to you
They're just old men
Like on the benches in the park
Except their balding spots
Are glistening with gold
Human! human of the year! you won!
Human! human of the year! you won!
You have won!
hallelujah
hallelujah
hallelujah
hallelujah
Outside the cars are beeping
Out a song just in your honor
And though they do not know it
All mankind are now your brothers
And thus the cathedral had spoken
Wishing well to all us sinners
And with a psalm drew silent
Till next year's big human winner
Outside the cars are beeping
Out a song just in your honor
And thought they do not know it
All mankind are now your brothers
All mankind are now your brothers
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hello? hello?
Calling a Karl Projektorinski
To the front of the cathedral
You have won
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The impression I get from this song is that it's sort of satirical; humans have a way of idolizing other people for really no apparent reason. It never gives an explanation to why Karl is human of the year, he doesn;t even seem to know. the cars beeping and the icons' gold bald spots make me thing of materialism too.
Read posts before making duplicates of an "original" thought.